Introduction to the Lecture

Agricultural carbon sequestration is still a controversial topic at present. The reason for the dispute is not that agricultural carbon sinks do not exist, but that agricultural carbon sinks are unstable, difficult to evaluate and manage, with higher trading risks. Objectively speaking, soil has huge potential of carbon sequestration. Developing agricultural carbon sinks can not only provide an offset mechanism for carbon emissions, but also promote the improvement of farmland soil fertility and ensure the sustainable development of agriculture. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has put forward the “4 per 1000” Initiative, which aims to mitigate the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide, thus helping to cope with climate change. Actively responding to the “4 per 1000” Initiative is of great significance for China to achieve the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and fulfill the NDCs of the Paris Agreement. Based on years of research and practice by experts, this lecture mainly introduces the concept of agricultural carbon sink, the methods of carbon measurement and monitoring, and the challenges faced.

Profile of the Speaker

Ma Wenlin, Doctor of Environmental Engineering, is Dean of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Director of the Beijing Climate Change Research and Talent Training Base, and Secretary-General of Beijing Low-carbon Agriculture Association, mainly engaged in the research on agricultural greenhouse gas emission reduction assessment methods and adaptation to climate change. Dr. Ma is in charge of a National Science and Technology Key R&D Project in the Period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, Research on Key Technologies of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emission and Reduction and Verification of Planting and Farming Enterprises (Organizations) (2017YFF0211703), a sub-project, “Accounting Standard of Greenhouse Gas Emission of Pig Breeding Enterprises and Evaluation of Agricultural Low-carbon Enterprises” (2016YFF0204401-03) and a grant project of China Clean Development Mechanism, “Research on the Adaptability of Beijing Water System to Climate Change. Dr. Ma has also participated in major projects on agricultural carbon emission and carbon reduction sponsored by the Beijing Science and Technology Commission and the Beijing Agriculture and Rural Bureau, such as “Integration and Demonstration of High-efficiency and Low-emission Production Technologies of Major Agricultural Products”, “Study on Carbon Emission Technologies and Emission Reduction Indicators of Large-scale Livestock Farms” and “Integration of Low-carbon Emission Monitoring and Low-carbon Technology Screening of Large-scale Pig Farms”, responsible for the development and research of greenhouse gas emission assessment accounting methods and assessment tools. In addition, she has participated in the project “Report on the Action of Carbon Neutralization in Huailai County”, responsible for the assessment of greenhouse gas emission status, emission reduction measures planning and carbon neutral path analysis in the fields of industry, construction, transportation, waste treatment, woodland, grassland and wetland. She is also Editor-in-Chief of two industry standards, namely, Guidelines for Accounting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Crops and Guidelines for Accounting Methods and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dairy Farming Enterprises, and three group standards, namely, General Rules for Accounting of Carbon Footprint of Agricultural Products, General Rules for Low-carbon Evaluation Technology of Agricultural Enterprises and General Rules for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Planting and Farming Enterprises (Organizations); and has participated in six industry standards such as General Rules for Greenhouse Gas Emission Verification of Breeding Enterprises (Organizations) and Technical Specifications for Greenhouse Gas Emission Verification of Breeding Enterprises, five local standards such as General Rules for Greenhouse Gas Emission Accounting of Agricultural Products and Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emission Accounting of Animal Husbandry Products, and six group standards such as Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Accounting of Farm Manure Treatment Projects and Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emission Accounting Methods and Reports of Planting Enterprises (Organizations).