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Biochar carbon markets: A mitigation deterrence threat

Price, Catherine; Morris, John; Morris, Carol

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Abstract

This article aims to add to the emerging empirical mitigation deterrence literature by drawing on ongoing research into a particular form of greenhouse gas removal technology – biochar – and associated biochar carbon markets. As such, the aim of this paper is to explore whether the UK carbon market for biochar, in practice is likely to contribute to delays in emissions reduction. In other words, we explore whether UK biochar carbon markets are (likely to be) as much of a problem for mitigation deterrence as imagined or envisaged within the mitigation deterrence literature. We draw from original data collected in 2022 from 33 semi-structured interviews with mostly UK based experts who have an interest or potential interest in biochar, supplemented with a document analysis. Conceptual approaches from the social studies of finance have guided the analysis, an approach that enables systematic investigation of experts’ understandings of the biochar carbon market landscape in the UK. Although biochar proponents forwarded narratives – or fictional expectations – about how the future trading of carbon credits in carbon markets could lower the cost of producing biochar on a large scale, other experts doubted the credibility of these narratives. Whilst the construction and sustainable functioning of a UK-based biochar carbon market remains a speculative, rather than credible proposition, it nevertheless constitutes a threat of mitigation deterrence because of the assumption that a UK biochar carbon market will become a reality. There is the promise of future removals even if this is only imagined.

Citation

Price, C., Morris, J., & Morris, C. (2024). Biochar carbon markets: A mitigation deterrence threat. Environmental Science and Policy, 154, Article 103704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103704

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 11, 2024
Online Publication Date Feb 22, 2024
Publication Date Apr 1, 2024
Deposit Date Feb 22, 2024
Publicly Available Date Feb 22, 2024
Journal Environmental Science and Policy
Print ISSN 1462-9011
Electronic ISSN 1873-6416
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 154
Article Number 103704
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103704
Keywords Biochar; Mitigation deterrence; Biochar carbon markets; Fictional expectations; Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV)
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/31613490
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901124000388?via%3Dihub
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Biochar carbon markets: A mitigation deterrence threat; Journal Title: Environmental Science & Policy; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103704; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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