The Northwest Biocarbon Initiative
The Northwest Biocarbon Initiative (NBI) is galvanizing the region’s top biocarbon innovators – farmers, foresters, community leaders, and thinkers – to demonstrate the essential role that natural systems can play in reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to ensure long-term climate stability.
NBI’s purpose is to help the Northwest develop catalytic, world-class initiatives to build the biocarbon economy – pioneering model projects, best practices, new revenue streams, and the policy architecture to fuel biocarbon innovation. A worldwide biocarbon transition is necessary; NBI is positioning our region to show the way.
What is biocarbon?
Biocarbon is the carbon stored in the world’s trees, plants and soils. As plant life on our planet grows through photosynthesis, it naturally draws carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, storing the carbon in its growing tissues. Plant life absorbs carbon from the atmosphere like a sponge absorbs water, helping reduce the carbon dioxide pollution load that is destabilizing our climate. LEARN MORE
What does a biocarbon solution look like?
What is the biocarbon imperative?
Scientists conclude that atmospheric carbon levels are now higher than they’ve been in 15 million years, due to humanity’s burning of fossil fuels and transformation of landscapes. With carbon dioxide now over 390 parts per million, scientists are suggesting “. . . humanity has already transgressed” the climate boundary, and point to 350 ppm as the target to restore a “safe operating space for humanity.” To get there, we must quickly: 1) phase out the burning of fossil fuels; and 2) scale up carbon storage capacity. LEARN MORE
Why the Northwest?
The Northwest has emerged as a national and global climate leader. State and local governments are in the forefront of climate policy and action planning. And now the region is emerging as a center of biocarbon innovation. LEARN MORE
What will the Northwest Biocarbon Initiative do?
NBI will demonstrate the essential role that natural systems can play in reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and help the Pacific Northwest develop catalytic, world-class initiatives to build the biocarbon economy. LEARN MORE
