ACCE+ DLA programme: The role of air pollution and climate change in achieving UK woodland carbon sequestration targets University of York in United Kingdom

The ACCE+ DLA is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or religious belief, pregnancy or maternity, parental or caring responsibilities or career pathway to date. We understand that a student’s potential can be shown in many ways and we strive to recruit students from all backgrounds, and support them on their scientific journey.

We have designed our application systems to identify candidates who are likely to be successful in research regardless of what opportunities may have been available to them prior to their application.

Project Overview

Achieving net zero emissions in the UK by 2050 will depend on the ability of natural ecosystems such as UK woodlands to sequester carbon (C). UK woodland cover will need to increase from 13% to 19% by 2050 to provide this C sequestration function. However, the capacity of these woodlands to sequester C is currently estimated using tree growth algorithms that ignore factors such as climate variables and air pollution which may limit the C sequestered over time. This project will identify these key abiotic threats and quantify their influence on C sequestration. This will allow development of a decision prediction tool to inform both suppliers (i.e. landowners restoring and creating woodlands), and buyers (i.e. those businesses in need of offsetting their carbon emissions) of voluntary C markets. This will support woodland creation on private lands, by providing the project verification needed to enhance demand for C credits and help realise progress towards UK woodland C sequestration targets.

The project objectives will be to:

1. estimate the influence of air pollution (ozone and nitrogen) and climate change (water and heat stress) on changes to forest biomass for key woodlands across the UK out to 2050. This will use the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry model to estimate pollution concentrations and climate variables, and the DO3SE model to estimate pollutant and climate-variable impacts to assess forest biomass loss;
2. assess the size of these losses in relation to targets for C sequestration by UK woodlands (e.g. those included in the woodland code set of projects for 2039 and 2050);
3. consider implications for market-based incentives to landowners to preserve, restore or expand woodland through the issuance of C credits and;
4. develop a set of policy recommendations to support delivery of woodland C sequestration UK net zero targets.

This project is particularly timing since tree planting and the promotion of a voluntary carbon market is key in the governance of CO2 removal at scale needed to reach the UK governments 2050 “net zero” target. However, the effectiveness of this scheme requires robust standards for the measurement, reporting and verification of C removal claims attached to C credits. This project brings together diverse research disciplines of physical science (atmospheric chemistry, forest physiology and growth) and environmental economics (assessment of financial incentives for environmental management) necessary to understand the true capacity of our UK woodland systems to sequester C to inform climate policy strategy.

This studentship will be based in the Environment & Geography Dept. at the University of York but will benefit from CASE support from Forest Research and close research collaboration with UKCEH Edinburgh and The National Forest. Depending on skills and experience, the successful applicant will receive training in plant physiology, modelling and computer programming (Fortran, R, and Python) as well as the socio-economic aspects of climate policy and carbon credit schemes. The successful applicant will gain an understanding of forest growth dynamics and carbon sequestration and have an enthusiasm for developing modelling and computer programming as well as in applied research in forest policy and carbon credit schemes. The successful applicant will become part of the vibrant postgraduate community within York, UKCEH and Forest Research. For informal discussion please contact the main supervisor Prof. Lisa Emberson.

Project supervisor details and information:

• Professor Lisa Emberson (University of York)
• Dr Julia Touza (University of York)
• Dr Massimo Vieno (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)

Julia Touza and Massimo Vieno will also be co-supervisors of this project.

Part-Time Study Options

All ACCE+ PhDs are available as part time or full time, with part time being a minimum of 50% of full time. Please discuss potential part time arrangements with the primary supervisor before applying to the programme.

Project CASE Status

This project is a CASE project. Your project will be co-supervised by the non-academic partner organisation, and you will spend 3-6 months on a placement with your CASE partner in their workplace. You will experience training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting, and will build business and research collaborations. Your CASE partner will also contribute an additional £1000 per year to your Research and Training Support Grant.

Candidate information

An online information session with the project supervisor took place recently.

This link is the recording of this session.

This link is a Frequently Asked Questions document that you may find helpful.

How to Apply

To apply for this project, you need to complete and submit a Google Form . This is instead of a cover letter. The proforma is designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. As part of this form, you will need to include a personal statement. You will also need to upload a CV, your undergraduate transcript, and if applicable, your Masters transcript. You will also need to provide the contact details of two referees.

Please see the ACCE website for all details of how to apply to the programme at each ACCE+ institution: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply/ .