Biochar: the Preferred Weapon in the War on Climate Change.

The biochar world is proud to announce one of its newest advocators, British entrepreneur billionaire Richard Branson. Branson is the founder of the brand name Virgin, which represents over 360 companies worldwide. ^[1] Lately, Branson has been allocating his efforts towards mitigating climate change. This past February, Branson teamed up with former vice president Al Gore offering $25 million dollars to anyone who can remove at least a billion tons of carbon dioxide a year from the Earth's atmosphere. Additionally, Branson pledged to invest $3 billion dollars to fighting climate change. "I believe in our resourcefulness and in our capacity to invent solutions to the problems we have ourselves created," said Branson. ^[2]

With the idea that every war needs a war room, Branson helped create in Washington what is being referred to as the “Carbon War Room”. This special war room is designed for the specific purpose of examining all possible ways to not only cut emissions but also remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. “All options are on the table,” Branson explained. Of those options, Branson enthusiastically focused on biochar as perhaps the most promising idea. Branson is in absolute favor of a direct intervention to pull carbon dioxide out of the air and that’s exactly what biochar technology accomplishes. ^[3] Michael Turnbull, Australia’s former environmental minister, has recently said that biochar has the potential to absorb one-fifth of emissions in his country while also raising agricultural productivity. ^[4]

[1] “The World's Billionaires”. “#236 Richard Branson”. Forbes. 3/5/08. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Richard-Branson_2Y7I.html

[2] “Tycoon Hopes to Spur Milestone Research”. Kevin Sullivan. Washington Post. 2/10/07. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/02/09/AR2007020900693.html

[3] “Sir Branson Endorses Biochar”. Art Donnelly. 10/19/09. http://seachar.org/wordpress/p=246

[4] “Debating the Climate Benefits of ‘Biochar’”. James Kanter. New York Times. 4/15/09. http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/debating-the-climate-benefits-of-biochar/