Webinar title: Soil as an Asset: Carbon Negative Biochar for Soil Resilience and Voluntary Carbon Markets
Speaker: Yong Sik Ok
Webinar time: June 29th, 2026 (Monday) 10:30
Venue: Room 231, New Environmental Building
Inviter: Xiaoyun Xu, Xinde Cao
Abstract:
Biochar, produced through the pyrolysis of biomass under limited or oxygen-free conditions, has attracted global attention for applications ranging from soil improvement and carbon sequestration to contaminant remediation. This presentation examines the evolving role of biochar as a carbon-negative technology and its growing significance within voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). Recent advances in monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), dynamic life cycle assessment (dLCA), and field-scale implementation are highlighted to demonstrate how scientific evidence can be translated into credible carbon removal strategies. Ultimately, this presentation proposes a new perspective: soil should no longer be viewed merely as a resource to manage, but as a strategic environmental asset, with biochar serving as a key enabling technology connecting soil resilience, climate action, carbon markets, and sustainable development.
About the speaker:
Yong Sik Ok is a Full Professor of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering at Korea University and President of the International ESG Association and International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry. Ranked the world’s No. 1 environmental scientist by ScholarGPS, he is a Highly Cited Researcher across environmental ecology, engineering, and biology/biochemistry. His work integrates climate science, soil biodiversity, biochar-based mitigation, plastic pollution, and ESG systems. He has led major international initiatives through the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, fostering collaborations with institutions such as Stanford University. Professor Ok translates sustainability science into corporate strategy and public policy, advising global companies and developing national ESG evaluation frameworks. With over 143,827 citations and an h-index of 196, he advances integrative solutions at the interface of science, engineering, and governance.