Nature-inspired solutions for permafrost carbon stabilization and fixation
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The project, led by Prof. Pooneh Maghoul (Polytechnique Montréal) in collaboration with Object Research Systems (ORS) Inc., AWN Nanotech, and BGC Engineering, aims to develop nature-inspired strategies for the stabilization of permafrost and the long-term sequestration of permafrost carbon.
The harmful effects of climate change on the environment in (sub)arctic regions are unprecedented and accelerating. Built infrastructure in Northern Canada—including roads, railways, dams, and pipelines—is subsiding at a faster rate than ever before. Billions of dollars will be required to adapt and repair affected infrastructure as permafrost degradation advances. Beyond its engineering implications, permafrost also represents the largest terrestrial carbon reservoir in human history. Under scenarios of gradual thawing alone, cumulative permafrost carbon emissions could reach 150 billion tonnes by 2100 in the absence of aggressive climate policies and adaptation strategies. This figure corresponds to nearly half of the remaining global carbon budget if the goal of limiting warming to below 2 °C—set by international climate agreements—is to be met.
The research objectives are structured into two interconnected components:
- Project 1 – Nano-biocementation processes for permafrost stabilization. This component will investigate the combined potential of nanotechnology and biotechnology in enhancing permafrost stability.
- Project 2 – Nature-based permafrost carbon sequestration through vegetation. This component seeks to develop a coupled geotechnical–climate–AI model to assess the influence of vegetation and microbial activity on permafrost carbon storage. The intellectual property generated will equip partners with cutting-edge climate technologies.
The partnership aims to transfer advanced knowledge and technology to industrial stakeholders to:
- Support Québec and Canada in achieving their net-zero emission targets by 2050, and
- Deliver innovative and scalable climate adaptation strategies for northern infrastructure that are effective in the short, medium, and long term, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development in the North.
In addition, the project will contribute to training highly qualified personnel, including four doctoral students and one postdoctoral fellow.
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