Building the Biocarbon Economy: How the Northwest Can Lead

Climate Solutions announces the release of Building the Biocarbon Economy: How the Northwest Can Lead, a new briefing series that details how forests, farms, cities and businesses can mobilize biological carbon resources to stabilize the climate. 

Authored by Climate Solutions Research Director Patrick Mazza, Building the Biocarbon Economy:

• Examines emerging science underscoring the urgent need to actively reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations 
• Comprehensively explores Pacific Northwest biocarbon assets, potentials, opportunities and challenges 
• Details the region’s emerging cluster of biocarbon innovators in forestry, agriculture, urban development and biomass-based businesses 
• Envisions a Northwest biocarbon leadership initiative to build models for regional cooperation that can be emulated around the world. 

 
The Northwest is positioned to mount a pacesetting regional initiative that leverages plant growth and rich soils to pull carbon dioxide from the air and replace fossil fuel products – the biocarbon paradigm. 

Northwest assets include:

• Forests that are among Earth’s greatest carbon accumulators 
• Highly productive agricultural soils 
• Cities in the forefront of protecting and creating greenspaces 
• Advanced “bio-economic development” efforts to transform organic waste streams and sustainable biomass into valuable products. 

Building the Biocarbon Economy is authored by Climate Solutions Research Director Patrick Mazza as part of a project supported by the Bullitt Foundation.