Podcasts about carbon removal

Episode 67 is with Dr. Joachim Katchinoff, Co-founder and CEO of CREW CarbonIn this episode, Na'im speaks with Dr. Joachim “Jo” Katchinoff, co-founder and CEO of CREW Carbon, about how wastewater treatment plants can become permanent carbon sinks. Jo explains how dosing calcium carbonate into wastewater bioreactors converts microbe-produced CO2 into stable bicarbonate, why closed treatment systems make measurement far easier than open-ocean approaches, how the same intervention helps utilities remove more nitrogen and phosphorus while deferring major capital upgrades, what it takes to scale in a slow-moving regulated sector, and more.This conversation was recorded before some big news from CREW: the company just signed an offtake agreement with Microsoft for up to 23,602 durable carbon removal units — bringing CREW to more than $40 million in committed carbon removal contracts with buyers including JP Morgan, Google, Autodesk, and Stripe through Frontier. It's a strong signal that the approach Jo describes in this episode is resonating with the market's most demanding buyers.Na'im and Jo discuss:* Jo's Journey From Environmental Consulting To Yale* Commercializing Alkalinity-Based Carbon Removal* How Wastewater Treatment Actually Works* Wastewater Alkalinity Enhancement Explained* MRV Advantages Of Closed Reactor Systems* Co-Benefits For Wastewater Utilities* Scaling In A Regulated, Risk-Averse Sector* What Policymakers Need To Know* CREW's Series A And What's NextRelevant Links:* CREW Carbon - Website* Wastewater Alkalinity Enhancement - CREW's Approach* CREW Carbon Signs Offtake Agreement with Microsoft for Wastewater Carbon Removal* Isometric's Certified Protocol for Carbon Removal via Wastewater* CREW Carbon and Isometric Announce the World's First Wastewater Alkalinity Enhancement Carbon Removal CreditsAbout Jo Katchinoff:Jo is the co-founder and CEO of CREW Carbon, a scientist with multiple patents and over a decade in environmental research and climate modeling. Jo leads CREW's scientific strategy, partnerships, and commercialization of a novel platform that lets wastewater facilities remove and permanently store atmospheric carbon dioxide. Previously, Jo was a postdoctoral researcher and project manager at Yale, where his work on alkalinity-based carbon removal laid the scientific foundation for CREW's platform. During his PhD at Yale's Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, he published in journals like Nature and won the Hammer Prize for Outstanding Geologist. He was also a Marie Curie Fellow at Oxford, studying weathering and carbon dioxide removal. He holds a PhD and MPhil from Yale and a BS in Earth Science from William & Mary.About CREW Carbon:Founded in 2022 out of Yale University, CREW Carbon is a water technology company providing wastewater treatment facilities with a solution that improves performance, lowers cost, and permanently removes greenhouse gases. By dosing carbon-negative alkalinity like calcium carbonate directly into wastewater bioreactors, CREW captures biogenic CO2 as stable bicarbonate while improving biological treatment efficiency. CREW is now deployed at 10 wastewater treatment facilities across the US and Europe, has raised over $35 million in funding including a recent Series A, and holds more than $40 million in committed carbon removal contracts with buyers including Microsoft, JP Morgan, Google, Autodesk, and Stripe through Frontier. You can learn more at crewcarbon.com.This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

What if the cheapest, largest carbon removal machine on Earth isn't a factory, but phytoplankton in the ocean?Company bio:Gigablue is building MCFS (Microalgae Carbon Fixation and Sinking), a marine carbon removal method that uses phytoplankton and carbon carrier pods to capture and store carbon in ocean sediment. They recently raised a $20M Series A to scale their work. Speaker bio:Ori Shaashua is the co-founder of Gigablue and a serial technology entrepreneur, investor, and executive with a multi-sector track record across artificial intelligence, climate tech, cybersecurity, digital health, and smart mobility.Five lessons for climate entrepreneurs:Build for the real bottleneck, not the obvious one – In carbon removal, the challenge wasn't just capturing carbon; it was exporting it durably. Great founders identify the true constraint and design around it.Trust is part of the product – In a market that depends on verification, transparency, and public credibility, open methodology and measurable outcomes become strategic advantages.Use the business model buyers already understand – Gigablue borrowed contract structures from commodity and energy markets, making it easier for large buyers to transact with confidence.Scale requires timing, not just ambition – Ori emphasized that the market is moving from experimentation to consolidation, and that entering at the right stage can lower risk for both founders and buyers.Tie the mission to durable economics. – A climate solution has to make financial sense, not just scientific sense. The strongest ventures are built where impact and commercial viability reinforce each other.--1️⃣ Join our confidential CEO community.Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.com2️⃣ Join 40,000 professionals who get our newsletter.Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com3️⃣ Leave a podcast review.If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

Direct air capture technology has the potential to meaningfully reduce atmospheric CO2, but high costs and energy demands have kept it from scaling. In this episode, Cory Sanderson, founder and CEO of Sustaera, explains how his Durham-based climate tech company is taking a fundamentally different approach. Sustaera's conductive structured sorbent technology uses resistive electrical heating instead of thermal regeneration, making it three to four times more energy-efficient than competing direct air capture systems and far simpler to deploy at scale. Cory also gets into the realities of building a climate tech hardware company in the current funding environment, why patient capital and mission-aligned investors matter more than traditional VC timelines, and how the Research Triangle ecosystem has been a genuine asset on the fundraising trail. Attorney Josh Hayes of Hutchison PLLC joins the conversation to add perspective on the unique legal and structural challenges facing clean tech founders. Hosted by Trevor Schmidt.

Tencent is one of China's biggest tech companies, running the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat and the world's largest video game vendor. Now, it's also an up-and-coming force in the field of carbon removal. Xu Hao, the vice president of Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, oversees two of those initiatives: the Carbon Neutrality Lab and CarbonX. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host of the “TED Tech” podcast, to talk about how megacorporation can help advance the climate movement. He also explores the current state of carbon removal technology and how Tencent's video games are becoming an unlikely source of climate education for hundreds of thousands of people. This is episode three of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charm Industrial is a climate tech company that takes biomass and converts it into a heavy, carbon-rich oil that can be injected underground, transmuting and storing the greenhouse gas far from the atmosphere. They're scaling up fast and recently announced a new $20 million debt facility with JP Morgan; the bank also agreed to buy more than 60,000 tons worth of removals from them.On this episode of Shift Key, Rob is joined by Peter Reinhardt, the CEO and cofounder of Charm. (He's also the CEO of the trucking company Revoy, a founder of the autoimmune therapeutics company Antipode, and a board member at the electricity data company Arcadia.) They talk about what makes Charm different, how it is scaling operations as a carbon removal company, and the changing politics of climate change.Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap News.You can find a full transcript of the episode here.Mentioned:Charm's new deal with JP MorganThe ProPublica story Peter criticized“Over-Regulation is Doubling the Cost,” by PeterThe Cantwell-Sheehy bipartisan carbon removal billPreviously on Heatmap: Charm Is Working With the U.S. Forest Service on a Carbon Removal Pilot--This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by ...Tandem PV is the leader in perovskite solar technology. We're building the most efficient and durable perovskite solar panels on the market at our factory in Freemont, California. Learn how we're restoring U.S. leadership for the next era of solar manufacturing at tandempv.com.Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Animal industries are fragile and responsive to demand shifts. Cutting meat could trigger global restoration and economic transition. #EndAnimalAg #ClimateRecovery #FoodRevolution

Amardeep Parmar from Bae HQ welcomes Perminder Dhillon, Principal at Carbon13.Amardeep Parmar:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amardeepsparmar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Perminder Dhillon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedhillon/Carbon13: https://carbonthirteen.com/

Most net zero policies and major scientific models rely on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to limit global heating to 2℃. The most commonly known methods include afforestation, bioenergy with carbon capture, and direct air capture - but various proposals are emerging for ocean-based CDR technologies. Could marine CDR offset emissions from sectors that cannot easily decarbonise, or are the costs and risks too great? Bertie sat down with oceanographer David Ho to discuss these questions, shortly after he returned from the 4th International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Removal in Milan. David Ho is a professor at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and a lead author on the upcoming IPCC methodology report on carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture, utilisation and storage. His 2023 article for Nature criticising overreliance on CDR has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.Further reading: 'Three challenges to marine carbon dioxide removal', npj Ocean Sustainability, November 2025Principles for responsible and effective marine carbon dioxide removal development and governance, 2025'Marine carbon dioxide removal may be a future climate solution', Dialogues on Climate Change, November 2024'Can coastal and marine carbon dioxide removal help to close the emissions gap? Scientific, legal, economic, and governance considerations',  Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, August 2024'Deployment expectations of multi-gigatonne scale carbon removal could have adverse impacts on Asia's energy-water-land nexus', Nature Communications, July 2024'Carbon dioxide removal is not a current climate solution — we need to change the narrative', Nature, April 2023Send us Fan MailFind all our latest investigations, features and interviews at www.landclimate.org

Episode 66 is with Richard Barker, Partner at CounteractIn this episode, Na'im speaks with Richard Barker, a partner at Counteract, about why financing models vary widely by pathway, capex/opex profile, and deployment context. Richard highlights industrial integration opportunities, the need for team and financial readiness for long corporate timelines, how policy should set stable expectations akin to landfill tax, and more.Na'im and Richard discuss:* Richard's Journey Into Climate Investing* Counteract's Investment Thesis* Financing Models Evolving* CDR Pathways With Industrial Fit* Financing In Tight Markets* Preparing Startups To Scale* Lessons From Other Industries* Policy Expectations And Demand* Counteract Next Delivery FundRelevant Links:* Counteract - Website* Counteract's Portfolio CompaniesAbout Richard Barker:Richard is a Partner at Counteract. His varied experience spans over 35 years and working in a number of countries. He studied engineering at Oxford University, before lecturing in Economics at UCC in Ireland. After spells in strategic consulting and as Head of Strategy at ANZ Investment Bank in Australia, Richard founded and grew a number of sustainable businesses - in chemical process technology, aluminium recycling and biomethane - before moving onto the investment side about 10 years ago. He has advised a number of investors on sustainable infrastructure investment before joining Counteract.About Counteract:Founded in 2021, Counteract was the world's first early stage investor dedicated to carbon removals. They're a team of experienced entrepreneurs who saw a huge opportunity in an overlooked part of climate. The team has looked at over 1,000 companies on its journey to investing in 27 companies to date - diverse by both geography and CDR pathway. This, together with Counteract's own research capability, puts it at the centre of this nascent market with unparalleled knowledge and a strong reputation within the CDR ecosystemThis episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Carbon removal has gone from a niche climate concept to one of the world's most important challenges. Reid and Aria sit down with Nan Ransohoff, Head of Public Goods at Stripe and a leader behind Frontier, the advanced market commitment helping build the market place for carbon removal. Nan explains why cutting emissions alone won't be enough to meet climate goals, what it will take to scale carbon removal from thousands to trillions of tons, and why governments—not just companies—will ultimately need to create and fund the markets that make it possible. They discuss the most promising carbon removal technologies, the role AI could play in accelerating climate solutions, and what it means to be a "general manager" for challenges that affect all of humanity. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

One of the most interesting projects in carbon removal is doubling down on the industry. Frontier — a coalition of tech, finance, and fashion firms that buy carbon removal credits to support the crucial technology — has secured another $915 million to power its next round of buying. The artificial intelligence giant Anthropic has also joined the coalition alongside its existing members, including Stripe, Google, JPMorganChase, and others.On this episode of Shift Key, Rob is joined by Hannah Bebbington Valori, who leads Frontier. They discuss the health of the carbon removal industry after a tough few years, how Frontier is changing its buying strategy for its newest round, and why Anthropic entered the coalition. Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap News.You can find a full transcript of the episode here.Mentioned:AI IPOs Could Create a Wave of New Funding for Climate TechRob's most recent story on carbon removal: Carbon Removal After MicrosoftRob's original story about Frontier: We've Never Seen a Carbon-Removal Plan Like This Before--This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by ...Heatmap Pro brings all of our research, reporting, and insights down to the local level. The software platform tracks all local opposition to clean energy and data centers, forecasts community sentiment, and guides data-driven engagement campaigns. Book a demo today to see the premier intelligence platform for project permitting and community engagement.Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every time you drive a car, heat your home or board a plane, carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere. A growing industry says it can pull that CO₂ back out again. Living Planet reporter Sam Baker visited two companies behind direct air capture to see whether this much-hyped technology is on the verge of a breakthrough - or headed for a reality check.

A former xAI engineer is suing the company and SpaceX, alleging he was fired for raising AI safety concerns about Grok days before SpaceX's historic IPO. Also, Alt Carbon said the agreement followed more than a year of scientific review and due diligence, with Microsoft requiring additional verification and data-sharing measures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In dieser Folge ist Ilan zu Gast bei Ucaneo in Berlin-Marzahn, am Schwarze-Pumpe-Weg, wo gerade die größte Direct-Air-Capture-Anlage Deutschlands entsteht. Ilan spricht mit Florian, Mitgründer und Geschäftsführer von Ucaneo, über eine Technologie, die CO2 direkt aus der Luft filtert, inspiriert von der menschlichen Lunge. Statt klassischer hitzebasierter Verfahren setzt Ucaneo auf einen elektrochemischen Prozess, der über 50 Prozent energieeffizienter arbeitet und sich flexibel an erneuerbare Energien anpassen lässt. Wir sprechen darüber, wie Florian und seine Mitgründerin Carla mit 15.000 Euro Eigenkapital und Aquarienpumpen im Labor gestartet sind, in zwei Monaten 1,3 Millionen Euro eingesammelt haben und heute mit 27 Leuten und 17 Millionen Euro Risikokapital eine komplett neue Industrie aufbauen. Themen der Folge: Wie elektrochemische DAC-Technologie funktioniert und warum sie so effizient ist Warum Ucaneo Anfang 2023 die komplette Technologie umstellen musste Wie der CO2-Markt funktioniert: freiwillige Zertifikate, EU-ETS und Contracts for Differences Warum CO2 in Zukunft ein knapper Rohstoff werden könnte Use Cases von Zement über Bier bis zu synthetischen Treibstoffen Zusammenarbeit mit der Öl- und Gasindustrie und wie das Team damit umgeht Integration von DAC-Anlagen in den Strommarkt als flexible Last Politische Hebel: warum DAC in den EU-ETS gehört Wie man als Gründer sane bleibt Am 2. Juli eröffnet Ucaneo die Anlage in Berlin-Marzahn inklusive CO2 Store of the Future. Mehr zu Ucaneo: https://ucaneo.com Kontakt: hello@ucaneo.com Querverweise: Folge 39 mit Benjamin Schulz (Carbon Removal Partners), Ucaneos erstem Investor Folge 49 mit Stefan Permin (Universal Cell) zum Thema Batteriespeicher

Episode 65 is with Luke Connell (CarbonRun), Trish Nixon (Amplify), and Brandon Vlaar (Mangrove Systems) recorded live during Toronto Climate WeekFor this special Toronto Climate Week wrap-up, Na'im sits down in person with three of the sharpest minds in the Toronto climate scene, each bringing a different vantage point on where carbon removal really stands. Trish Nixon (Venture Partner at Amplify Capital) brings the finance and capital side, Brandon Vlaar (CEO of Mangrove Systems) brings measurement and verification, and Luke Connell (CEO of CarbonRun) brings the supplier and operator side. A year after many feared the bottom would fall out of climate, the conversation is candid about the headwinds: a venture market that cannot scale this sector alone, a punishing “missing middle” in project finance, and an affordability lens now applied to every climate policy. At the same time, the panel makes the case that the structural foundations for a durable market are further along than the vibes suggest. It is an honest look at the valley of death ahead, and the real opportunity waiting for the companies that make it to the other side.In this episode, we discuss:* Whether the sector feels better or worse than a year ago, and why we are “over the hype cycle”* The “missing middle” in project finance, and why venture was the wrong tool to scale an infrastructure-heavy market* Canada as a safe haven for carbon removal: real advantage or comforting story?* CarbonRun's first verified river alkalinity enhancement credits, and how audits expose optimistic models fast* The role of MRV and VVBs in reducing friction from operational activity to revenue* Consolidation ahead for a field of roughly 1,100 permanent-CDR companies, and why that can be healthy* The affordability trap, the move from “desktop to deployment,” and what success looks like five years outGuestsTrish Nixon, Venture Partner, Amplify Capital. Trish is a climate-finance leader with roots in project finance and impact investing. She co-led CoPower, a clean-energy fintech, through its acquisition by Vancity, then served as Managing Director of Climate Finance at VCIB. At Amplify Capital she invests in early-stage climate and health ventures, and she also advises companies in the space, including CarbonRun.Brandon Vlaar, CEO & Co-Founder, Mangrove Systems. Brandon is a repeat founder who came up through Canadian fintech, co-founding Lending Loop, the country's first peer-to-peer lending platform, before turning to climate. He launched Mangrove Systems in 2022, and today it builds digital MRV (dMRV) software trusted by some of the largest carbon projects in the world, spanning carbon removal, carbon capture, low-carbon fuels, and super-pollutants.Luke Connell, CEO & Co-Founder, CarbonRun. Luke is an entrepreneur whose career has bridged social impact and commercialization before he found his way to carbon dioxide removal in 2020. He now leads CarbonRun, the Nova Scotia company pioneering river alkalinity enhancement: adding finely ground limestone to acidified rivers to restore them while permanently converting atmospheric CO₂ into stable ocean bicarbonate. Under Luke, CarbonRun recently issued its first verified credits. Referenced in this episode* CarbonRun* Mangrove Systems* Amplify Capital* Carbon Removal Canada* Toronto Climate WeekThis episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

What if the organic waste we send to landfills could instead become a scalable climate solution? In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Jerry Kristian, co‑founder of NuLife GreenTech, about how industrial waste—from food processing residues to sewage sludge—can be transformed into permanent carbon removal and low‑carbon fuels.   Kristian explains how NuLife's hydrothermal liquefaction technology mimics the natural process that formed fossil fuels, but in minutes rather than millennia, converting wet organic industrial waste into carbon‑rich biocrude and biochar. The conversation explores why modular deployment matters for municipalities and industry, how underground geological storage enables permanence, and why rigorous third‑party verification is critical to building trust in carbon removal markets.

Crew Carbon raised $25 million in a Series A funding round to expand its wastewater treatment and carbon removal technology. The company, a Yale University spinout, integrates carbon removal technology into existing wastewater facilities, enhancing treatment performance and CO2 removal. The technology is operational in the U.S. and Europe, with clients like JPMorganChase and Google. The funding will support partnerships with additional utilities and management team expansion. Investors include Burnt Island Ventures and AP Ventures.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scaling carbon removal through existing supply chains, community-aligned infrastructure, and signing up JPMorgan in the process.–Barclay Rogers is the founder and CEO of Graphyte, focused on low-cost, permanent carbon removal using biomass burial. Graphyte converts agricultural waste into dense carbon blocks and stores them underground, targeting sub-$100/ton durable carbon removal with high scalability.They're backed by leading climate investors such as Prelude Ventures, Carbon Direct Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Overture.Here's what we discussed:Focus on execution, not recognition – Barclay said Graphyte does not chase awards; they focus on building a good business and “the scoreboard takes care of itself.” In his framing, recognition follows disciplined execution, not the other way around.Use existing systems instead of reinventing everything – Graphyte's model borrows from agriculture, timber, mining, and landfill engineering rather than trying to invent an entirely new stack from scratch. For CEOs, that is a reminder that practical innovation often comes from recombining proven systems.Build where supply chains already exist – A key part of the company's logic is plugging into waste biomass streams that already exist at scale, rather than creating a brand-new supply chain. That lowers cost, complexity, and time to scale.Community alignment is a strategic advantage – Their approach of turning old quarries into parks or other public-benefit assets is not just goodwill; it helps create local support and makes projects easier to advance. CEOs should hear this as: stakeholder trust can be part of the operating model.Your unique background can become a moat – Barclay's mix of engineering and legal experience clearly shaped the company's design, including permanence and land-use strategy. His point was that category-defining companies often come from founders combining multiple strengths, not just going deep in one lane.Start with what works now, not only with what sounds futuristic – He made a strong case that many carbon removal solutions delivering today are biomass-based, even if more attention goes to flashier technologies. For CEOs, the broader lesson is to distinguish between what is compelling in theory and what is actually delivering in the market.Stress management is leadership infrastructure – Barclay's routine — exercise, cold plunge, family time, meditation, and delaying phone use — reflects a serious view that managing pressure is part of the CEO job. His message was clear: as responsibility grows, personal systems matter more, not less.--Join our confidential communityPrivate CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.comNewsletter2-min read. Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.comLeave a podcast reviewIf you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

Episode 64 is with Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon DirectIn this episode, Na'im speaks with Dr. Julio Friedmann about Carbon Direct's recent publication “ 5 Pillars of Successful Project Deployment and Delivery” on what the carbon dioxide removal industry needs to de-risk projects in order to attract new buyers and to stand up infrastructure-scale carbon removal projects.In this episode, Na'im and Julio discuss:* How CDR 1.0 built markets* What buyers today really want* Overview of Five Pillars Carbon Direct outlined* Why project assurance matter* The bottleneck project management talents* Industry-led standard setting* Basics of bankable offtake agreementsRelevant Links:* CDR 2.0: Five Pillars of Successful Project Deployment and Delivery - Report* 2026 State of the Voluntary Carbon Market - Report* 2026 State of the Voluntary Carbon Market - Webinar* Carbon Direct - Website* Advance Carbon Removal Coalition - Website* Quebec Surficial Mineralization HubAbout Dr. Julio Friedmann:  Julio is Chief scientist at Carbon Direct. He works directly with clients, the science team, and the leadership of Carbon Direct to solve major technical challenges around carbon management and CO2 removal, making clean power in products and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Dr. Friedmann is one of the most widely known and authoritative experts in the US on carbon dioxide removal, CO2 conversion, and hydrogen industrial decarbonization and carbon capture and sequestration. He recently served as principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy, where he was responsible for doe's r and d program in advanced fossil energy systems, carbon capture and storage, CO2 utilization, and CO2 removal.More recently, he was a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia. He has held positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, including Chief Energy Technologist.About Carbon Direct: Carbon Direct is a trusted energy and climate solutions company that combines world-class scientific expertise, technical rigor, and market insights to help clients achieve their business goals. Carbon Direct 70 plus scientists work closely with their finance policy and market experts to design diligence and deliver decarbonization solutions across industries. From JP Morgan Chase to Microsoft. Carbon Direct helps leading companies with carbon dioxide removal, carbon measurement from clean power opportunities and low carbon energy solutions.This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

To mitigate climate change, we must reduce new emissions. But what about the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere? And what about the emissions that we can't easily reduce with existing technologies? In this episode, James and Daisy discuss carbon dioxide removal (CDR). How is it done? What does it cost? And do we really need it?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: The State of CDR – Reports on the state of progress. Nearly 2.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ are already being removed annually, but around 7–9 billion tonnes are needed by mid-century.CDR.fyi – Provides trusted insights and analytics on durable CDR orders, projects, and financings across the carbon removal market.Counteract – Backs early-stage founders fostering innovation in carbon removal.  OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:IPCC – CDR refers to technologies, practices, and approaches that remove and durably store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It only refers to human activities that intentionally remove CO2 (not natural CO2 removal such as natural forest growth). RMI (2023) – CDR approaches can be sorted into three categories: (1) Biogenic CDR (plants); (2) Geochemical CDR (minerals); and (3) Synthetic CDR (energy). WRI (2026) – Outlines six carbon removal methods. Note: carbon removal is different from carbon capture and storage (CCS), which captures emissions at the source (a form of emission reduction).RMI (2024) – Five charts showing how much CO2 we need to remove from the atmosphere. CDR.fyi (2026) – Approximately $3.6B in private capital was invested in CDR companies between 2021 and 2025, with Direct Air Capture (DAC) accounting for ~61%.Climeworks – A Swiss company specialising in DAC and storage (DACCS) technology. 1PointFive – Once operational, the STRATOS facility in Texas aims to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.XPRIZE – The XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition is a $100 million global challenge intended to accelerate scalable solutions for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The 2025 winner was Mati Carbon, who use enhanced rock weathering – spreading crushed basalt on smallholder farms in India – to lock CO₂ as bicarbonate for millennia while enhancing soils and boosting crop yields.BCG (2025) – Smallholder farmers in India that work with enhanced rock weathering providers have seen ~20%–30% higher yields and ~30% lower fertilizer use, resulting in nearly 20%–25% higher household incomes. ESG Today (2026) – Microsoft signed agreements to remove 45 million metric tonnes of CO2 in 2025. By comparison, Frontier Buyers coalition (the second largest purchaser) has purchased around 1.8 million tonnes to date. Microsoft has confirmed that their carbon removal program has not ended but that at times they may “adjust the pace or volume” of procurement. Frontier Climate – An advance market commitment to buy an initial $1B+ of permanent carbon removal between 2022 and 2030. It was founded by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, McKinsey and tens of thousands of businesses using Stripe Climate.Responsible Investor (2025) – SBTi allows high quality removals to be used for residual emissions (capped at 10% of total emissions).Interface – Created the first-ever carbon negative carpet tile. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.

For the past few years, Microsoft has basically carried the carbon removal industry on its shoulders. The software company has purchased 72 million tons of carbon removal, more than 40 times what any other organization has financed, according to third-party sources.Now it's pulling back. As we reported last week, Microsoft has told suppliers and partners that it's pausing new purchases. Though the company says that its program “has not ended,” even a temporary pullback will have significant implications for the nascent carbon removal industry. What happens next for these companies? And is a bloodbath on the way? On this week's episode of Shift Key, Rob speaks to Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh from Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy about Microsoft's singular importance and what could come next.Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap News.You can find a full transcript of the episode here.Mentioned:Our initial Friday story: Microsoft Is Pausing Carbon Removal PurchasesJack's take: The Private Sector Built the Market, Time for Us to Scale ItHeatmap's Emily Pontecorvo on Ctrl-S, the startup trying to save CDR intellectual property--This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by ...Lunar Energy is building the technology to turn homes into active participants in the power system. Learn more about Lunar's vision of the future at lunarenergy.com.Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can't reach 1.5°C with emissions cuts alone. Carbon removal must scale alongside decarbonisation.In this episode, Andreas and co-host Carmel Rafaeli, Founding Partner at The Table, sit down with Henrietta Moon, Founder & CEO of Carboculture to unpack what it actually takes to build carbon removal infrastructure.Carbo Culture is scaling biochar into industrial systems that lock carbon away for centuries — while generating revenue across agriculture, energy, and materials.We cover:• How biochar works and why it's scalable• Why carbon removal alone isn't a business• The shift to regulated carbon markets• Financing capital-intensive climate infrastructure• Scaling from innovation to repetitionTimestamps:(00:00) Intro & funding gap(02:00) Biochar explained(03:00) EU regulation(05:00) Business model(08:00) Revenue strategy(17:00) Offtake & demand(22:00) Project finance(36:00) Founder journey

Wildfires are reshaping North America and the future of our forests. In this episode, we sit down with Grant Canary, CEO of Mast Reforestation, to explore how climate tech, biomass burial, and large‑scale reforestation can turn wildfire destruction into long‑term carbon removal.Grant shares why fixing the atmosphere is “the problem all other problems report to,” and how Mast rebuilds forests faster by burying fire‑killed trees to lock carbon away for thousands of years. We also discuss shrinking natural regeneration rates, the overwhelmed seed supply chain, and what it takes to restore burned landscapes at scale.If you care about climate solutions, carbon removal, forest restoration, or how innovation can reshape our response to megafires, this episode offers a clear look at the technologies and strategies shaping our planet's future.Topics Covered:• Why natural forest recovery is dropping from 90% to as low as 40%–70% after wildfires• How biomass burial locks carbon away for thousands of years• What it takes to rebuild seed and seedling supply chains• The role of carbon markets in financing large‑scale reforestation• How Mast went from construction to carbon‑credit issuance in just nine monthsListen in for a hopeful, actionable look at climate innovation and what it will take to restore our forests for the next generation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Dr. Wil Burns sit down with Dr. Gabby Kitch and Anu Khan from the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative (CRSI) —  a nonprofit organization using science and policy to unlock carbon dioxide removal (CDR) opportunities —  to break down their recently published roadmap, Our Coasts, Resiliency, and Carbon Dioxide Removal. The report identifies three coastal resilience pathways that offer possibility for alignment with ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.Authors of the report, Dr. Kitch and Anu Khan, discuss three types of coastal resilience pathways identified in the roadmap: living shorelines, ecosystem restoration, and stormwater infrastructure. The report explores how these pathways could also offer integrations with carbon removal. The report includes case studies from four coastal states — Louisiana, California, North Carolina, and New Jersey — as well as insights from interviews with more than 40 coastal practitioners.The report authors also explain that 40% of Americans live in coastal counties, making coastal resilience an evolving and necessary field. Across states, resilience infrastructure is expanding, but the authors emphasized that monitoring systems remain underfunded and how permitting processes vary across regions. Integrating CDR, however, can provide an opportunity for assessing its feasibility, standardizing monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), while also leveraging investments to accelerate learning across the field. This builds on the concept of “sectoral integration,” which reframes CDR as a co-benefit rather than a standalone industry. Our guests also emphasize the importance of incorporating environmental justice into project design. They spotlight the need for early and meaningful community engagement, co-developing projects for local benefits, using culturally-relevant outreach strategies, and respecting Indigenous rights. Looking ahead, they note that integrated projects are becoming the norm by necessity, and continuing in this trend can position coastal resilience as a case for knowledge sharing across the field.  Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.ACRONYMS/CONCEPTS:CEQA: California Environmental Quality ActCPRA: Coastal Protection and Restoration AuthorityCRSI: Carbon Removal Standards Initiative mCDR: Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal MRV: Monitoring, Reporting, and VerificationNOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OAE: Ocean Alkalinity EnhancementPlan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

Send me a messageWhat if voluntary carbon markets are either a vital climate tool... or a polished excuse to delay real decarbonisation?In this episode of Climate Confident, I'm joined by Dr Jennifer Jenkins, Chief Science Officer at Rubicon Carbon, to unpack one of the most contested questions in climate tech and net zero strategy: what role, if any, should voluntary carbon markets play in real-world emissions reduction? At a time when companies are under pressure to decarbonise, prove integrity, and navigate fast-moving policy shifts, this debate matters more than ever.We dig into why some firms see carbon credits as a practical way to close the gap between ambition and operational reality, and why others see them as a dangerous distraction. You'll hear why quality, additionality, MRV, and long-term offtake agreements are becoming central to the future of the market, and why high-integrity supply may be far tighter than many buyers realise.Jennifer also explains how buyers like Microsoft are shaping demand, how voluntary and compliance markets may be starting to converge, and why policy tools like CBAM could reshape the market faster than most people expect. You might be shocked to learn that one of the clearest ways to think about this space is as outsourced mitigation, a framing that makes the economics easier to grasp, but also exposes the credibility problem at the heart of the whole system.

Send me a messageAI may be booming, but the real bottleneck to it's growth may be turbines. And if firm power can't scale fast enough, parts of the energy transition hit a wall.In this episode, I'm joined by Brad Hartwig, Co-founder and CEO of Arbor Energy, to unpack a part of the climate tech and energy transition story that gets far too little attention: the physical machinery needed to deliver reliable, round-the-clock power. Arbor is developing modular supercritical CO2 turbines with integrated carbon capture, aimed at tackling one of the hardest problems in decarbonisation: how to provide firm, scalable electricity while still driving emissions reduction and keeping net zero in view.We dig into why turbine shortages are becoming a serious constraint on hyperscale data centres, utilities, and industrial electrification, and you'll hear why Brad believes this is now a critical choke point for both AI infrastructure and climate progress. You might be surprised to learn how stretched the traditional turbine supply chain has become, and why legacy manufacturers may be structurally mismatched to meet the moment.We also get into oxy-combustion, methane leakage, biomass, carbon sequestration, long-duration storage, and the awkward reality that wind, solar, batteries, and grid expansion, while essential, may still leave gaps when it comes to firm power. This is a grounded conversation about climate tech, policy, energy transition strategy, and what serious infrastructure thinking looks like when the easy slogans run out.

In this special video edition of Plan Sea, host Anna Madlener and Carbon to Sea's Senior Manager for Communications, Danny Gawlowski, record from the Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) in Glasgow, Scotland. They sit down with members of the COMPASS mCDR Communication Leaders program —  Dr. Abigale Wyatt, an ocean modeler from [C]Worthy, Dr. Mariam Swaleh, who leads the Ocean Climate Innovation Hub in Kenya, and Dr. Kohen Bauer, science director at Ocean Networks Canada — to explore what makes science communication effective, where it falls short, and lessons learned for communicating about mCDR research.The Communication Leaders program, sponsored in part by Carbon to Sea, aims to support mCDR experts with the skills to engage with policymakers, media, funders, and local communities, helping them to foster responsible dialogue across the field. Drs. Wyatt, Swaleh, and Bauer shared how — through a series of virtual trainings and a culminating two-day, in-person workshop — participants collaborated on exercises to clarify their audience, utilize accessible language, and practice realistic scenarios through role-playing stakeholder engagements. These exercises helped  build confidence, expose gaps in existing community engagement practices, and approach forums like OSM with a clearer communication lens. Effective science communication is essential to bridge mCDR researchers and their scientific findings with peers in other fields, decision-makers who influence research permitting and funding, and communities where research is happening. Dr. Bauer framed it as a foundational skill operating as the basis for collaboration and learning. A chemist by trade, Dr. Swaleh emphasized the limits of highly technical jargon and noted that accessible language is key to reaching your audience. Dr. Wyatt first saw the benefits from the personal experience of navigating conversations with climate skeptical family members. Our guests also discuss challenges in communicating across cultures, different types of stakeholders, highly politicized environments, language barriers, and different levels of scientific literacy. Dr. Swaleh shares part of this difficulty in the way “common” phrases, such as climate change, can experience difficulties in the way they are translated. She recounts how in Kiswahili, the notion of climate change moved from discussing the weather to “patterns of the country.” In this way effective communication requires slowing down, listening first, and building a shared understanding together. Thank you to everyone who shared their time to join us in-person at OSM in Glasgow, it was an incredibly insightful opportunity to connect, reflect, and learn alongside the field's global community. To learn more about the COMPASS mCDR Communications Leaders program and the insights Drs. Wyatt, Swaleh, and Bauer shared about how they approach communications across different audiences and contexts, watch or listen to the episode through your preferred podcast service and find the entire series here. Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.ACRONYMS/CONCEPTS:DOR: Direct Ocean RemovalEVs: Electric VehiclesmCDR: Marine Carbon Dioxide RemovalMRV: Monitoring, Reporting, and VerificatiPlan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns are joined by Frank Rattey and Dr. Thorben Amann of Planeteers — a Hamburg-based carbon removal startup researching alkalinity-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches — to discuss the science behind their closed-system pathway, their first field tests, and the national regulations guiding ocean-climate research.Dr. Thorben Amann is the Research and Development Lead at Planeteers and a geochemical CDR specialist. In this episode, Thorben explains how Planeteers' closed-system approach differs from other ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) strategies. Rather than dissolving alkalinity directly in the ocean to drive carbon dioxide uptake, Planeteers combines carbon dioxide from point sources and alkaline feedstock in a closed reactor where it forms stable alkalinity and is then discharged into rivers or oceans. Thorben walks through the chemistry behind this process and explains how this approach offers advantages for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). Because inputs and outputs are in a controlled reactor, Thorben asserts it's easier to conduct monitoring and initial reporting. At the same time, Thorben highlights a key challenge for the field: ensuring the stability of the alkalinity after discharge. For carbon storage to be durable, he explains that the alkalinity must remain equilibrated and stable. Frank Rattey, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Planeteers, then discusses Project Helix, Planeteers' first field deployment located at a wastewater treatment plant in Hetlingen, Germany. Validated through the registry Isometric, this first-of-its-kind research project discharges alkalinity-enriched water into the treatment plant's aquatic system to provide long-term carbon storage. Noting that Germany is the only country in the world that has translated the London Convention London Protocol into national law, Frank also offers insight into how Planeteers is operating under Germany's regulatory environment. In order to conduct their field research safely and responsibly, Planeteers cooperates with wastewater treatment plants, construction permits, and regional water authorities in the country.To learn more about Planeteers' closed-system, alkalinity-based CDR approach, listen to the episode above, subscribe with your favorite podcast service, or find the entire series here. Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.ACRONYMS/CONCEPTS:MRV: monitoring, reporting, verificationCO2: carbon dioxide R&D: research and developmentCDR: carbon dioxide removalOAE: ocean alkalinity enhancementLCA: life cycle analysisEU: European UnionLondon Convention (LC): Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972London Protocol: 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this episode of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns sit down with Professor Dr. Alexander Proelss, Chair in the International Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law, Public International Law, and Public Law at the University of Hamburg, to discuss the current state and recent developments of international legal frameworks regulating ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR). Alexander discusses the need for international law to ensure responsible regulation of oCDR, and offers insight into the relevant international agreements for oCDR research.Alexander joins Anna and Wil to help make sense of the existing international landscape, as well as what they mean for the development and regulation of ocean-climate research. He explains that international law is essential to ensuring responsible development of oCDR — and yet there is no single international treaty governing it.  He explains how the 1972 London Convention and the 1996 London Protocol (LC/LP) — originally designed to regulate the dumping of waste but later adapted to govern marine geoengineering — is the most relevant international framework to date, guiding the ocean-climate field. However, it has had slow progress in listing and regulating oCDR methods such as ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). Alexander discusses how today, the LC/LP interacts with the Paris agreement, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2023 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ). He also offers insight into how new legislation in Germany could make the country a "front runner" by implementing the LC/LP, permitting scientific research of several oCDR approaches and marking a significant shift from its previously highly precautionary stance.Alexander also discusses the tendency of international agreements to limit oCDR activities to scientific research and how regulation must balance risk mitigation with harnessing the benefits of oCDR. Looking ahead, he explains how a clear framework for governing commercial activity could help proven oCDR methods grow responsibly. To learn more about the latest state of international legal frameworks for oCDR, listen to the episode above, subscribe with your favorite podcast service, or find the entire series here. Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.ACRONYMS/CONCEPTS:London Convention (LC): Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972London Protocol: 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972OAE: ocean alkalinity enhancementoCDR: ocean carbon dioxide removalCDR: carbon dioxide removalUNCLOS: UN Convention on the Law of the SeaEEZ: exclusive economic zonesBBNJ: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement of 2023ICJ: International Court of JusticePlan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

In this episode, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns are joined by Dr. Grace Andrews and Kristi Weighman of Hourglass Climate — a leading nonprofit researching ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR, also known as mCDR ) methods like ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) — to discuss the launch of the Framework for Ecotoxicological Modeling of mCDR (FEMM). This project explores how ecotoxicological modeling and existing statistical approaches can be applied to OAE and oCDR projects, improving the field's understanding of these potential climate solutions' environmental risks. Dr. Andrews and Weighman offer insight into their process building and receiving feedback on FEMM, the framework's regulatory potential, and how FEMM can be applied across oCDR research. Dr. Grace Andrews, Founder and Executive Director of Hourglass Climate, now in her tenth year of working in the CDR field, last appeared on Plan Sea in 2024 to discuss Hourglass' role in advancing monitoring, verification, and reporting (MRV) for OAE. In this episode, she's joined by Kristi Weighman, an Hourglass scientist with expertise in ecotoxicology. Together, Grace and Kristi discuss how they recognized a critical gap in oCDR research — the lack of tools to monitor and model environmental risk — and developed a first-of-its-kind framework to fill that gap. Grace explains how our understanding of oCDR's environmental safety has lagged behind scientific developments in the field. In order to advance these projects in a responsible way, Grace believes that the field needs more rigorous, standardized approaches for modeling and measuring environmental risks. FEMM aims to address this gap through combining established statistical approaches with emerging modeling techniques, borrowing existing protocols from the ecotoxicology space and applying them to the nuances of oCDR. The framework begins with a screening-level assessment that uses highly conservative assumptions to determine whether a project's risks can be ruled out. Projects with identified risk may need to redesign aspects of their approach before moving on to more realistic assessment tools. The modeling relies on species sensitivity distributions (SSD) and calculations based on predicted environmental concentration (PEC) and predicted no effect concentration (PNEC). While this SSD approach has been applied to other environmental stressors, this is the first time it's been applied to oCDR. Grace and Kristi also highlight examples of specific mCDR stressors and conditions where data may be too sparse to fully apply this approach today, and outline research priorities that will enable a standardized approach for these over time.Looking ahead, Grace and Kristi share their optimism about FEMM's utility for researchers and broader oCDR stakeholders. They hope the tool will enable users to identify potential risk in their proposed projects, integrate cross-disciplinary data, and foster greater regulatory dialogue. Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.To listen to Dr. Grace Andrew's first Plan Sea podcast appearance, Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

Jonathan Rhone and Natalie Khtikian of CO280 join Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy and Climate Finance to discuss how CO280 is accessing project finance capital and building long-term revenue and trusted partnerships for carbon removal projects in the pulp and paper industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marcelo Medeiros, co-founder and CEO of re.green, joins Climate Rising to discuss how his company is restoring millions of hectares of degraded land in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and Amazon biomes by producing high-quality nature-based carbon removal credits. Marcelo explains how re.green combines data science, forest restoration, and long-term land ownership to deliver durable carbon sequestration—and why they chose a for-profit model to scale impact. He discusses price transparency, quality verification, and how re.green is preparing for a future where compliance carbon markets may accept removal-based offsets from nature-based solutions. Marcelo also shares how winning the Earthshot Prize brought global visibility, how AI is improving ecosystem planning, and how the company works with clients like Microsoft and Telefónica under long-term offtake agreements. This episode is a part of our Global South series. Explore more episodes at climaterising.org.

In this episode of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns sit down with researchers Dr. Leila Kittu, Dr. Giulia Faucher, and Dr. Charly Moras to discuss the latest updates from the Ocean Alk-Align consortium's exploration of ocean alkalinity enhancement's (OAE) environmental safety and efficiency. Representing expertise from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research and the University of Hamburg, Leila, Giulia, and Charly join Anna and Wil to share valuable insights on what's needed for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) and environmental safety assessments.Ocean Alk-Align is dedicated to evaluating the efficacy and durability of carbon uptake and storage;  environmental safety and potential co-benefits; and MRV requirements of various OAE approaches. Leila, Giulia, and Charly discuss how understanding OAE's efficiency — commonly measured by how many tons of carbon dioxide is removed per ton of material added to the ocean — is incredibly nuanced. The group's research suggests we must also consider factors such as dilution, sinking, and horizontal mixing when discussing the efficiency of various OAE approaches in different real-world settings.To evaluate OAE's environmental safety and better understand how scientists can protect living ecosystems without sacrificing efficiency, Leila, Giulia, and Charly discuss mesocosm experiments that were conducted. The team gradually included multiple species of plankton to identify how biological life responds to seawater changes. Mesocosm research is advantageous for breaking down complex problems into manageable pieces — but is limited in terms of scale, duration, and ability to capture higher trophic levels.Looking ahead, the group called for more robust frameworks for environmental safety assessment and thresholds as OAE projects move towards field research. The group argues that the broader benefit of carbon removal seeks to outweigh the potential risk of interfering in delicate ocean environments, and requires careful consideration and standardization across these frameworks. Ocean Alk-Align's work aims to provide a scientifically-rigorous, informed pathway to weighing this “give and take” decision.Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative and the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.ACRONYMS/CONCEPTS:OAE: ocean alkalinity enhancementMRV: monitoring, reporting, and verificationmCDR: marine carbon dioxide removalOAE-PIIP: Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Pelagic Impact Intercomparison ProjectPlan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

-Improvements to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure could take a hit as data center construction accelerates. That's according to a report from Bloomberg. -At least 5.6 million people had their names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers stolen in a data breach at Seven Hundred Credit, a company that runs credit checks and identity verification services for auto dealerships across the US. Microsoft announced Thursday it would buy 3.6 million carbon removal credits from a biofuels plant in Louisiana owned by C2X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tencent is one of China's biggest tech companies, running the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat and the world's largest video game vendor. Now, it's also an up-and-coming force in the field of carbon removal. Xu Hao, the vice president of Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, oversees two of those initiatives: the Carbon Neutrality Lab and CarbonX. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host of the “TED Tech” podcast, to talk about how megacorporation can help advance the climate movement. He also explores the current state of carbon removal technology and how Tencent's video games are becoming an unlikely source of climate education for hundreds of thousands of people. This is episode three of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tencent is one of China's biggest tech companies, running the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat and the world's largest video game vendor. Now, it's also an up-and-coming force in the field of carbon removal. Xu Hao, the vice president of Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, oversees two of those initiatives: the Carbon Neutrality Lab and CarbonX. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host of the “TED Tech” podcast, to talk about how megacorporation can help advance the climate movement. He also explores the current state of carbon removal technology and how Tencent's video games are becoming an unlikely source of climate education for hundreds of thousands of people. This is episode three of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send me a messageWhat if cutting emissions isn't enough, and never was?And what if the real lever we've been ignoring is regeneration, not reduction?This week I'm joined by Chad Frischmann, co-creator of Project Drawdown and founder of Regenerative Intelligence, for a conversation that goes right to the core of what the climate movement keeps getting wrong. We dig into why stopping global warming requires more than technology, pledges, or net-zero spreadsheets. It demands a full systems shift that places life, human and non-human, at the centre of every decision.You'll hear how Chad went from studying the history of propaganda at Oxford to mapping the most comprehensive catalogue of climate solutions ever assembled. We uncover why today's climate discourse has become strangely timid, how a tiny group of entrenched interests is still steering the global response, and why he believes we're entering the “death throes” of the old extractive economy.You might be surprised to learn that regeneration isn't just about soils or forests. Chad makes the case for regenerative energy systems, regenerative supply chains, regenerative finance, and explains how each one creates cascading benefits that ripple far beyond emissions. We explore food systems, supergrids, biodiversity, justice, and the uncomfortable truth that climate “risk” is no longer risk at all… it's reality.If you want a fresh, hopeful, deeply practical frame for the climate transition, this episode delivers it.

What if we could remove CO₂ from the atmosphere today—and keep it gone for 1,000 years? In this episode, I'm joined by Barclay Rogers, founder and CEO of Graphyte, who is pioneering a breakthrough method called Carbon Casting that uses biomass by-products and low-energy engineering to lock away carbon at a fraction of the typical cost. We explore why many emissions cannot be abated, how durable removals differ from nature-based fixes, and what it takes to make carbon removal bankable and scalable. Remarkably, Graphyte went from founding to full-scale operation in just 18 months—proving that durable carbon removal can be delivered today, not decades from now. Listen in to discover how Graphyte is rewriting the carbon removal playbook—faster, cheaper, and at scale.--- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on…YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!Timestamps:0:00 – Opening: The 1,000-year carbon removal challenge2:10 – Barclay's journey: From engineer & lawyer to founder5:50 – What “carbon removal” really means vs. abatement9:30 – Nature-based solutions vs engineered removals13:20 – Introducing Carbon Casting: how it works17:45 – Why biomass waste + dry storage = low-cost removal22:50 – Scaling: from pilot to modular global model27:10 – Market mechanics: credits, buyers, quality ratings31:40 – Financing and bankability: project finance in CDR35:15 – International expansion & global biomass potential39:00 – Practical advice for climate-tech founders43:00 – Closing thoughts & next stepsUseful links: Graphyte Website: https://www.graphyte.com/Graphyte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/graphytecarbon/Barclay Rogers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barclayrogers/Leaders on a Mission Website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

We are familiar with climate policy to reduce emissions. We know about the policies to adapt to climate change. But can we successfully reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, and how do we create policies and incentives to invest in, and take advantage of, those technologies? Ottmar Edenhofer, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, talks to Tim Phillips about an aspect of climate policy that is becoming increasingly important. 

Even if we do everything we need to do to limit our carbon emissions—curb deforestation, stop driving so many miles, clean up our power grids—we still need to remove gigatons of carbon from our atmosphere to meet our climate goals. Carbon removal is still a new technology, and while carbon removal companies removed roughly 35,000 tons of carbon last year, we have a long way to go. Luckily, there are people working on creative ways to raise the capital needed for development of this crucial tech. Ryan and Anjali chat with Nan Ransohoff, Head of Climate at the online payment company Stripe, and learn about her efforts to invest in carbon removal, and encouraging other big companies to remove 10 million gigatons of carbon each year by 2050. For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/speed-and-scale-transcriptInterested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, host Daniel Raimi discusses carbon removal with Jennifer Wilcox, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who recently coauthored a paper titled, “Elevating Carbon Management: A Policy Decision-Making Framework and Rubric for the 21st Century.” Wilcox discusses the existing gaps in current policies related to carbon removal and important considerations when amending and creating new policies. She also addresses the recent change to the 45Q subsidy (originally included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and revised by Congress in the budget reconciliation bill signed on July 4, 2025), assessing how the updated tax break offers incentives for carbon removal. “Elevating Carbon Management: A Policy Decision-Making Framework and Rubric for the 21st Century” by Jennifer Wilcox, Noah Deich, and Holly Jean Buck; https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/elevating-carbon-management-a-policy-decision-making-framework-and-rubric-for-the-21st-century/ National Park Service Rehabilitation Tax Credits; https://www.nps.gov/subjects/taxincentives/index.htm

Steve Oldham is CEO of Captura. Captura develops Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology that removes CO₂ from seawater, triggering the ocean to draw more CO₂ from the air to rebalance. With CO₂ concentrations ~150× higher in seawater than air, Captura's closed-loop process uses electrodialysis to create acid and base on site—no added chemicals, no waste—and can run largely on off-peak renewable energy. Oldham, former CEO of Carbon Engineering, contrasts DOC with DAC, discusses MRV and crediting, deployment pathways (onshore, barges, vessels), his company's pilot progress in Hawaii, and why pragmatic scale-up and licensing partnerships matter for gigaton carbon removal. Episode recorded on Aug 28, 2025 (Published on Sept 30, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [02:17] Steve's path from Carbon Engineering to Captura[05:30] How Direct Ocean Capture actually works[09:10] Closed-loop design with no waste products[10:14] Using electrodialysis to split acid and base[13:12] Deployment options: onshore plants, barges, vessels[14:39] Running on off-peak and curtailed renewables[16:30] Measuring and crediting carbon drawdown[21:53] Balancing CO₂ use vs. permanent storage[25:22] Policy gaps like 45Q for ocean removal[35:15] Captura's Kona pilot built in 70 days[37:33] First commercial project expected in Europe Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Agricultural byproducts like corn stover, wood chips, and soybean husks typically get left to decompose and release carbon dioxide. Don't call them “waste” though; some farmers use these byproducts as field cover to improve soil health. And industry uses a fraction of this biomass as feedstock for valuable products like ethanol, electricity, and heat. Theoretically, it's a vastly underutilized resource.  The problem is that agricultural residue is really hard to collect. The economics of gathering, sorting, processing, and refining are tough. On top of that, it makes for a crappy fuel. It's low energy density and high carbon, compared to oil, for example. So in what applications does agricultural residue make the most sense? And how do you economically collect the material at scale? In this episode, Shayle talks to Peter Reinhardt, co-founder and CEO of Charm Industrial, a carbon removal startup that collects agricultural residue and refines it in the field into what it calls “bio-oil.” It then injects the bio-oil underground for sequestration. Together, Peter and Shayle discuss the use cases and collection of agricultural residue, covering topics like: How the difficult economics of collecting and transporting biomass have killed centralized biomass projects, except in a few niche examples Why Peter says the processing and densification are key to improving the economics The tradeoffs between big, centralized processing facilities and Charm's on-field mobile pyrolysis units The case for using agricultural residue for applications where the carbon content matters, like iron-making, sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon removal What's driving carbon removal buyers and what it takes to build trust with them Resources: Catalyst: Fuzzy math and food competition: The pitfalls of sourcing biomass for carbon removal   Open Circuit: What we learned from the ethanol disaster   Catalyst: Shopify's head of sustainability on the realities of the carbon removal market   Catalyst: From biowaste to ‘biogold'   Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor.  Catalyst is brought to you by Anza, a solar and energy storage development and procurement platform helping clients make optimal decisions, saving significant time, money, and reducing risk. Subscribers instantly access pricing, product, and supplier data. Learn more at ⁠go.anzarenewables.com/latitude⁠.  Catalyst is supported by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform by visiting ⁠energyhub.com⁠. Catalyst is brought to you by Antenna Group, the public relations and strategic marketing agency of choice for climate and energy leaders. If you're a startup, investor, or global corporation that's looking to tell your climate story, demonstrate your impact, or accelerate your growth, Antenna Group's team of industry insiders is ready to help. Learn more at ⁠⁠antennagroup.com⁠⁠.

Dr. Stephen Beaton is Co-founder and CEO of Circularity Fuels, which develops compact reactors that turn waste carbon streams into high-value fuels and chemicals. Rather than compete with fossil fuels from the start, Stephen identified high-purity methane for lab-grown diamonds as a beachhead market—where Circularity's product is 80–90% cheaper than incumbents while proving the core technology needed for clean liquid fuels.Stephen earned a chemistry PhD at Oxford and built deep expertise in synthetic fuels during his U.S. Air Force career, including overseeing jet fuel quality control in the Middle East and launching the Air Force's e-fuels program. His insight: build a fuels company that doesn't begin with fuel.Today, Circularity Fuels operates demonstration reactors in diamond facilities and is scaling toward biogas-to-SAF production using the same reactor platform. The company has raised $3M in venture funding, including from DCVC, plus $5M in grants from ARPA-E, NSF, and the California Energy Commission. MCJ is proud to be an investor.Episode recorded on Aug 12, 2025 (Published on Sept 16, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [03:09] Dr. Beaton's background in clean fuels[07:31] His work with Air Force petroleum in the Middle East[10:12] A brief overview of hydrocarbons[13:08] ESAF as resilience for Pacific operations[16:22] What e-SAF really means and why it matters[19:24] Circularity Fuels' origin story[21:20] The company's three principles[23:04] High-purity methane for diamonds as a beachhead[27:46] Recycling diamond exhaust with microwave-sized reactors[30:40] Building a fuel company without fuel as the initial product[34:35] Hardware sales vs metered methane service model[39:05] Biogas-to-SAF pathway via Fischer-Tropsch[42:38] Circularity's progress to date[44:01] Competing with fossil jet and carbon removals[48:41] How Circularity secured non-dilutive funding Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Microsoft's Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal, and Chestnut Carbon CFO Greg Adams share their perspectives as a major buyer and developer of carbon removal credits. Their 2025 deal is one of the largest carbon removal deals in the U.S. and seeks to deliver 7 million tons of nature-based carbon credits over 25 years.  Brian explains Microsoft's carbon negative strategy and targets, and the role of carbon removal credits. He also describes how Microsoft is using its Climate Innovation Fund and procurement efforts to “build missing markets” in decarbonized energy, materials, and transportation.  Greg describes how Chestnut Carbon combines afforestation, land ownership, and a private equity-backed project development model to deliver high-integrity carbon credits. He explains how their work is similar to long-term energy infrastructure contracts like power purchase agreements (PPAs), and how they are using proprietary tools to scale.   Brian and Greg also share their advice for those looking to learn more and work in the field.  

Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I spoke with Ori Shaashua, Co-founder and CCO of Gigablue, a marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) company taking a radically scalable approach to the carbon challenge.Gigablue's MCFS (Marine Carbon Fixation and Sequestration) method taps into the ocean's natural carbon cycle by cultivating phytoplankton in floating substrates and using gravity, not high-energy processes, to sink captured CO₂ to deep-sea sediment for thousands of years. It's a low-energy, high-durability method that's already secured the largest ocean carbon removal offtake to date.We unpack why mCDR matters, how it compares to nature-based and tech-heavy CDR approaches, and what makes ocean deserts, like those off the coast of New Zealand, ideal sites for safe and measurable sequestration. Ori also outlines their scale-up pathway: from kiloton removals today to multi-megaton capacity by 2029, and potentially gigaton-level by 2035.We dive into the mechanics of traceability, the real costs of permanence, and why MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) is the make-or-break for CDR credibility. Ori also pulls no punches on what's holding back progress: delayed regulation, weak compliance markets, and over-reliance on short-term carbon offsets.If your company is thinking seriously about durable net zero strategies, or wondering how ocean-based carbon removal fits into the climate tech landscape, this episode delivers real insight.

Send me a messageIn this episode of Climate Confident, I sat down with Kanika Chandaria, Climate Lead at Agreena, to explore one of the most overlooked yet high-impact climate solutions: soil.We talked about why regenerative agriculture is gaining traction, not just as a nature-based solution, but as a scalable, economically viable climate strategy. Kanika broke down how soil has the potential to sequester 2–5 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually, making it a key lever for companies aiming to meet net zero targets.We also got into the challenges: from the financial barriers facing farmers to the complexity of MRV (measurement, reporting, and verification) for soil carbon. Kanika explained how Agreena combines satellite imagery, AI, and selective soil sampling to deliver robust data at scale, data that's now being used not just for carbon markets, but to inform sustainable loans and supply chain initiatives.We examined the growing role of the private sector in climate action, especially as policy delays continue in the EU and US. And we discussed the importance of interoperability, why regenerative farming solutions need to work across carbon markets, food systems, and financial products.If you're a business leader thinking seriously about decarbonisation, soil carbon may be the high-impact tool you've been missing.

Haakon Brunell is the CEO and Co-founder of Carbon Crusher, a Norwegian company turning traditional road construction on its head. Carbon Crusher refurbishes existing roads using bio-based binders and on-site recycling to create carbon-negative, cost-effective, and more durable infrastructure. In this episode, Haakon shares how their "Crushing-as-a-Service" model and SkyRoads AI platform reduce emissions, increase road longevity, and drive down costs. He explains why roads are both a climate problem and a climate opportunity—and how Carbon Crusher plans to sequester a gigaton of CO₂ by 2035.MCJ is an investor in Carbon Crusher, having participated in the company's seed round back in 2022 when it emerged from Y Combinator. Guest hosting for the first time on this episode is MCJ Partner, Thai Nguyen. Enjoy the show! In this episode, we cover: [02:23] Launching Carbon Crusher out of Y Combinator[05:22] An overview of Carbon Crusher[06:15] Roads as a climate problem and carbon sink opportunity[08:21] Emissions from traditional road refurbishment[09:41] Carbon Crusher's 3 pillars: crushing, bio-binders, and AI platform[12:52] Why roads are now stronger, cheaper, and greener[14:14] Customer mindset in a conservative industry[17:49] Origin story from winter-damaged roads in Norway[21:12] Performance in both cold and hot weather climates[22:53] Customers include cities, counties, and private road owners[26:12] SkyRoads AI helps digitize and plan road maintenance[28:45] Challenges: regulation and conservative decision-making[30:53] Vision: sequestering a gigaton of CO₂ by 2035Episode recorded on May 13, 2025 (Published on June 23, 2025) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Scientists are clear that meeting climate goals means ending carbon pollution and drawing down excess CO2 from the air. That’s why carbon-removal technologies have proliferated over the past decade. But with the US government slashing climate incentives and programs, some companies are being forced to cut costs. This week Akshat Rathi speaks with Jan Wurzbacher, co-founder of Climeworks, a startup that pulls carbon dioxide from the air, about its first major layoffs and what the future holds for the most expensive climate solution. Explore further: Climeworks Is Cutting 22% of Staff as US Climate Backlash Hits Carbon Removal Past Zero episode on carbon removal with Professor Jennifer Wilcox Big Bets on Speculative Carbon Capture Tech Ignore Today’s Solutions Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. This episode was produced by Sommer Saadi and Robert Williams. Special thanks to: Coco Liu, Michelle Ma, Brian Kahn and Siobhan Wagner. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brandon Middaugh is the senior director of Microsoft's $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund, created in 2020 to accelerate technologies that help Microsoft and the wider economy meet aggressive 2030 sustainability goals: carbon‑negative, water‑positive, zero‑waste and ecosystem‑protective. Five years in, Brandon shares how the fund's “invest‑to‑procure” model aligns capital with Microsoft's own demand for clean power, fuels, carbon removal, low‑carbon materials and water solutions; what's working (a 5‑fold jump in durable CDR contracted since launch) and where supply still lags; and why scaling markets—not just piloting tech—is central to Microsoft's moon‑shot roadmap toward net‑zero and beyond. ​ In this episode, we cover: [01:43] Microsoft's ambitious 2030 sustainability targets[02:59] Brandon's path toward climate finance[10:59] The fund's “north star” [12:18] How carbon removal demand still dwarfs current supply[17:14] Airline partnerships supporting Microsoft's net-zero goals[19:46] Investment and procurement teams' flywheel collaboration[23:22] Water-related investments and initiatives[29:36] Program mandates: innovate, accelerate, and scale[31:57] Brandon's advice on transparent engagement with Microsoft[36:43] Predicting highly distributed future energy systems[40:16] How transformation only seems inevitable in hindsightEpisode recorded on April 10, 2025 (Published on May 12, 2025) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant