Agricultural carbon drawdown: from science, to policy, to business
9th March 2023
Agricultural carbon drawdown: from science, to policy, to businessÂ
Jacqueline McGlade
Thursday 9 March | 12 – 1 pm
On campus room: The Council House, Council Chamber
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88438704098
How can agricultural carbon sequestration and storage be scaled up fast enough to help mitigate climate change, while also supporting agricultural livelihoods and resilience? In this talk, Prof McGlade will discuss insights on the science of CO2 drawdown and its impacts on soil health and agricultural productivity, the challenges and potential of crafting effective policy, and unlocking the tools of the private sector to achieve net-sequestration in agriculture.
Prof. Jacqueline McGlade is an environmental scientist and an expert in sustainable development, biodiversity, and climate policy. She has over three decades of experience in academia, international organizations, and government, leading research and policy efforts in environmental management, resource efficiency, and innovation. She is also a co-founder of Downforce, a company using soil models and remote sensing to inform land carbon management. Prof. McGlade has held several high-level positions, including Executive Director of the European Environment Agency and Chief Scientist of the United Nations Environment Programme. She has also been a professor of Environmental Informatics at University College London, where she directed the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences and Technologies. In her current work, Prof. McGlade focuses on agricultural carbon sequestration and storage, exploring ways to promote sustainable land use practices that can mitigate climate change while providing economic benefits to farmers and landowners. She is particularly interested in the potential of soil carbon sequestration and its role in enhancing soil health and fertility, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting biodiversity.
Prof. McGlade is a member of several international scientific bodies, including the Earth System Science Partnership and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. She has published numerous articles, books, and reports on environmental science, policy, and management. As a leading expert in environmental science and policy, Prof. McGlade brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion on agricultural carbon sequestration. Her insights and perspectives on this critical issue can help inform our efforts to create sustainable land-use practices that benefit the environment, society, and the economy.