The Carbon Negative System: An Innovative System for Sustainable Community Development

Abstract

It is understood civilization may be entering the Anthropocene Epoch, characterized by human influences on Earth’s geology and environment. A growing body of literature highlights the ecological concerns affiliated with anthropocentric influences on the environment. This study indicates climate change and global CO2 emissions as an area of concern, and proposes the Carbon Negative System as a potential solution of many. The Carbon Negative System is comprised of three steps: land use and prairie vegetation, biochar process, and the system benefits. To illustrate these steps and to test the system’s viability, a case-study analysis was applied to the community of Fargo, North Dakota. The system is described and its benefits were indicated. A carbon budget and economic analysis were determined, and the system was applied to a resilience framework to synthesize the findings. Keywords: community development, biochar, prairie vegetation, ecosystem services, resilience, Anthropocene, climate change, carbon emissions