Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Toronto
$429,000.00
Novel strategies to mitigate GHG emissions from urban forestry waste
FY 2023-24
Summary
Urbanization affects close to 1.0 x 10^6 km^2 with ~68% of the global population expected to reside in urban areas by 2050. Urban areas are now recognized as hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for more than half of total estimated GHG emissions globally. While energy use of the built environment and transportation sectors dominates emissions, direct GHG emissions from urban waste streams and soils are also large but poorly resolved contributors; moreover, urban land use can substantially modify energy demand - for example urban trees can mitigate the urban heat island effect and thus reduce energy use. The proposed project will provide data to better quantify GHG emissions from urban forestry waste at processing sites and when used as mulch in three major urban areas in Canada. Our recent studies in log processing sites in operational forestry suggest that large methane emissions are associated with forestry waste material. Targeting reductions in methane emissions is important as methane accounts for ~30% of anthropogenic climate forcing and has a short atmospheric half-life. The study will examine mitigation of GHG emission in this sector through conversion of urban forestry waste to pyrolyzed organic matter (biochar), with a focus on biochar use in urban soils and green infrastructure to enhance C sequestration, reduce substrate GHG emissions (particularly of methane), and increase urban vegetation growth and physiological performance. In collaboration with partners, we will also examine use of innovative biochar-based products, including pelletized biochars and biochar-coasted seeds, in an urban forestry and urban green infrastructure context. Integration, modeling, and life-cycle analysis components of the project will address the potential for novel strategies to generate a "virtuous cycle" in which waste material from urban vegetation is recycled as biochar for use in urban forestry and green infrastructure, with knock-on benefits that include reduced urban energy demand.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
577155-2022
Name nom
Thomas, Sean C
Department département
Forestry, Faculty of
Organization id
31
Institution établissement
University of Toronto
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
429000
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
401
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Climate and atmosphere
Area of application fr
Climat et atmosphère
Research subject code
4905
Research subject group en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject group fr
Silviculture
Research subject en
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Research subject fr
Sylviculture
Application title
Novel strategies to mitigate GHG emissions from urban forestry waste
Keyword
biochar; methane; pyrolysis; soil GHG flux; urban forestry; wood waste
Application summary
Urbanization affects close to 1.0 x 10^6 km^2 with ~68% of the global population expected to reside in urban areas by 2050. Urban areas are now recognized as hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for more than half of total estimated GHG emissions globally. While energy use of the built environment and transportation sectors dominates emissions, direct GHG emissions from urban waste streams and soils are also large but poorly resolved contributors; moreover, urban land use can substantially modify energy demand - for example urban trees can mitigate the urban heat island effect and thus reduce energy use. The proposed project will provide data to better quantify GHG emissions from urban forestry waste at processing sites and when used as mulch in three major urban areas in Canada. Our recent studies in log processing sites in operational forestry suggest that large methane emissions are associated with forestry waste material. Targeting reductions in methane emissions is important as methane accounts for ~30% of anthropogenic climate forcing and has a short atmospheric half-life. The study will examine mitigation of GHG emission in this sector through conversion of urban forestry waste to pyrolyzed organic matter (biochar), with a focus on biochar use in urban soils and green infrastructure to enhance C sequestration, reduce substrate GHG emissions (particularly of methane), and increase urban vegetation growth and physiological performance. In collaboration with partners, we will also examine use of innovative biochar-based products, including pelletized biochars and biochar-coasted seeds, in an urban forestry and urban green infrastructure context. Integration, modeling, and life-cycle analysis components of the project will address the potential for novel strategies to generate a "virtuous cycle" in which waste material from urban vegetation is recycled as biochar for use in urban forestry and green infrastructure, with knock-on benefits that include reduced urban energy demand.
