Blog Post: November 2025

Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals Highlights the Growing Role of Biochar

The publication of the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals, led by Dr Alan Whitehead, marks an important moment for the UK’s journey toward delivering high-integrity carbon removals at scale. The Review sets out a long-term vision for how the UK can build a resilient, credible, and investable GGR landscape, one capable of contributing meaningfully to Net Zero.

Biochar recognised as a key GGR pathway

A notable feature of the Review is its clear recognition of biochar as a viable and scalable greenhouse gas removal solution. Alongside its capacity for durable carbon sequestration, biochar delivers a range of co-benefits for soil health, agricultural productivity, and wider land management, benefits that position it uniquely within the broader portfolio of GGR options.

This endorsement strongly reflects the progress made through the Biochar Demonstrator, which has played a leading national role in advancing biochar research, evidence generation, and responsible deployment across the UK.

Aligning with the work of the Biochar Demonstrator

The Review draws on extensive input from industry, academia, and policymakers, outlining the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling GGRs. Its recommendations, spanning deployment, regulation, monitoring, and market development, align closely with the work our team has been delivering.

Through the Demonstrator and our ongoing collaborations, we are helping to build the UK’s evidence base on:

• biochar production and quality standards

• environmental performance and lifecycle impacts

• real-world application across different land uses

• verification and monitoring approaches for long-term carbon storage

We are pleased to see these priorities reflected in the Review’s call for clearer policy frameworks, increased investment, and strengthened support for emerging carbon removal industries.

Looking ahead

The full report and supporting annexes are available for download. We encourage stakeholders across government, industry, and research to explore its findings. With growing recognition at national level, biochar is poised to play a significant role in the UK’s evolving GGR strategy, and our team remains committed to driving forward the research, partnerships and real-world deployment needed to unlock its full potential.