Biochar and carbon accounting

Biochar: accounting for carbon benefits of production and use

This report, commissioned by the International Council of Clean Transportation (ICCT), explores different pathways for crediting biochar in greenhouse gas lifecycle accounting frameworks. We focus on existing regulations such as the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which allow credit for soil carbon accumulation through improved agricultural management practices.

As biochar moves towards a mainstream role in agriculture and carbon markets, there is a clear need for robust accounting guidance. Through worked examples and policy analysis, the study unpacks key methodological questions around how biochar’s role, as both a soil amendment and a carbon removal product, may be fairly and accurately accounted in carbon crediting frameworks. We identify key safeguards, improvements to existing frameworks, and the need for measures to limit the risk of double crediting.