The Global Goals for Sustainable Development

Biochar can contribute to achieving several of the UN's Global Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in climate and environmental sustainability. Below, you can see which goals biochar supports across different industries.

Goal 15 – Ecosystems & Biodiversity

Biochar can help protect and restore ecosystems by:

Improving soil health – Enhancing soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability to support plant growth.
Preventing land degradation – Restoring degraded soils, reducing erosion, and enhancing land resilience.

Goal 13 – Climate Action

Biochar has significant potential to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels and contribute to climate action.

It acts as a long-term carbon sink by storing carbon in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years.
The production and use of biochar can help reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.
Biochar can be sold as a reliable form of carbon offset, enabling businesses and other stakeholders to reduce their climate footprint.

Goal 12 – Sustainable Consumption & Production

Biochar promotes sustainable production and consumption patterns by:

Transforming organic waste and byproducts into a valuable resource.
Contributing to a circular economy and efficient resource utilization in agriculture and industry.

Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities

Biochar can enhance urban environments by:

Increasing carbon storage in urban soils and vegetation.
Improving soil conditions in urban green spaces and tree plantations.

Goal 9 – Sustainable Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Biochar drives innovation in industry by:

Developing new technologies for biochar production and application.
Potential for use in the metallurgical industry as a replacement for fossil coal.

Goal 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation

Biochar contributes to improved water quality by:

Acting as a filter that captures nutrients and pollutants, reducing the risk of eutrophication in lakes, oceans, and waterways.
Potentially being used to purify contaminated water and stabilize toxins in polluted soil.

Goal 2 – Zero Hunger

Biochar enhances agricultural production by:

Increasing soil fertility and water retention capacity.
Reducing the need for irrigation and fertilization.
Potentially contributing to the recycling of essential nutrients, such as phosphorus, from wastewater sludge.

By addressing these goals, the use of biochar contributes to a more sustainable development and helps achieve multiple Global Goals simultaneously. However, it is important to note that further research and field trials are needed to fully understand and quantify biochar's effects in different contexts.

The Global Goals for Sustainable Development

​ Goal 15 – Ecosystems & Biodiversity

Goal 13 – Climate Action ​

Goal 12 – Sustainable Consumption & Production ​