Earth: Carbon to Capture

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the main driver of climate change, but our world still depends heavily on fossil fuels and industries that produce it. One solution is to capture CO₂ and store it deep underground in rocks where it can remain safely for millions of years. But, how do we know how long it can be stored for and that it will stay there? This talk explores how we can use natural underground CO₂ reservoirs and chemical “fingerprints” to understand how to safely store CO2 and how it can react to turn into new rock.

Carbon dioxide removal is essential. But does it have to mean permanent burial with no further purpose? Biochar offers that possibility: atmospheric CO₂ locked into a stable form of carbon that resists decomposition while improving nutrient retention, building resilience to environmental stresses, and reducing nutrient pollution from organic fertilisers. This talk explores how biochar can be effectively utilised, creating a cascade of benefits that address the multiple pressures facing modern agriculture. The solutions exist. They must be integrated to transform how we manage land.