Carbon Management Syllabus

Author

Brett KenCairn

Publication

Prepared for the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Carbon Management Training Sequence Participants; June 2021

Summary

For those wanting more resources across a range of related carbon drawdown topics, please explore this Carbon Drawdown Syllabus, which provides links to a host of useful resources—particularly overviews of actions currently being taken in early leading efforts around the world.


Carbon Management: An Introduction

Carbon sequestration and ecosystem services:

  1. Sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere, explained (5 minutes) 

  2. The Introduction to Ecosystem-based Carbon Management provides an overview of the key concepts, terms, and principles that provide a foundation for developing local carbon management strategies. (15 minutes).

  3. Background Research: Relationship between Climate Action Plans, Carbon Management, and Ecosystem Services (15 minutes)

  4. Benefits of Restoring Ecosystem Services in Urban Areas (20 minutes): Addresses the need for ecosystem services in urban areas and shows the link that ecosystem services are economically advantageous for cities to increase.

  5. For a deep dive: Walter Jehne The Soil Carbon Sponge, Climate Solutions and Healthy Water Cycles (2 hours)

Why carbon management and why now?

  1. Appendix A from Boulder City Council Memo: Overview of a Systems-Based Approach to Climate Action (5-20 minutes)

  2. Green Economics and Decent Work: A Viable United Framework (5-minute intro/conclusion, 15-minute read): Review of the  World Employment and Social Outlook 2018: Greening with Jobs Report which is largely successful in describing such a climate stabilization agenda. Its broad themes include the relationship between climate stabilization, economic growth, and jobs; the quantity and quality of work opportunities that could be created through the stabilization project; and a range of ways, in the areas of labor market regulation and skills development, to promote decent work in all aspects of the project.

Urban Trees:

Soil:

  • Soil Food Web Video (5 minutes): A brief explanation of how carbon is stored in soil and a back-of-the-envelope calculation of potential carbon sequestration potential of soil carbon storage worldwide.

  • Why Communities Should Invest in Regenerative Agriculture and the Soil Sponge (15 minutes): Explanation of what the soil sponge is, how its health affects human and environmental health, and suggests multiple opportunities for land managers, communities and investors to help create the conditions for healthy, functional soil.

  • The Secret History of Dirt (10-minute video): A synopsis of the history of farming practices and how that has damaged the microfauna in dirt. It also addresses how to reverse these impacts through earthworms and healthy farming practices in order to sequester more carbon.

Organic Waste Management:

Agriculture:

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Introduction to Ecosystem-based Carbon Management Opportunities in Urban Landscapes

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Overview of A Systems-Change Approach to Climate Action