Podcasts about carbon removal

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.

Episode 62 is with Robert Höglund (Head of Climate Strategy and CDR, Milky Wire; Co-Founder, CDR FYI; CEO, Marginal Carbon).In this episode, host Na'im Merchant catches up with Robert Höglund to discuss his latest thinking on the carbon removal sector's trajectory. Robert makes the case that CDR needs a narrative shift away from speed and scale, toward prove and learn. They explore why aviation and shipping are largely ignoring carbon removal in their decarbonization plans, why voluntary demand may outpace compliance demand for the next decade or more, and why the sector should stop treating CDR as a last resort and start positioning it as a legitimate mitigation solution alongside everything else.Key Topics:* From “Speed and Scale” to “Prove and Learn”: Focus on driving down costs, proving out methods, and nailing MRV rather than racing toward gigatons by mid-century.* Voluntary vs. Compliance Demand: Voluntary buyers, led by high-profit, low-emission sectors like tech, could remain the larger demand source for 10 to 15 years.* Aviation and Shipping's CDR Blind Spot: Legislation like Refuel EU and Fuel EU Maritime effectively shuts out carbon removal in favor of fuel switching, reflecting an advocacy gap in international forums.* CDR Is Not a Last Resort: Carbon removal is rate-limited, not stock-limited, and should compete on cost and sustainability alongside other mitigation solutions.* The Ability to Pay: There are plenty of high-profit, low-emission companies that could be buying CDR today but aren't yet.About Robert Höglund:Robert is the Head of Climate Strategy and CDR at Milky Wire, Co-Founder of CDR FYI, and CEO of Marginal Carbon. He writes reports for Carbon Gap and serves on several advisory groups including the EU Commission's Expert Group on Carbon Removal and the Science Based Targets Initiative's Expert Working Group.Relevant Links:* The carbon removal sector needs a new story — Robert Hoglund* Marginal Carbon Substack* Robert Höglund's LinkedIn Profile* The Billion Tonne Blueprint — Carbon Removal Canada* Removals into Revenue — Carbon Removal Canada* Advance Carbon Removal CoalitionThis 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

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.

Episode 61 is with Giana Amador (Executive Director, Carbon Removal Alliance), Erin Burns (Executive Director, Carbon180), and Peter Minor (CEO, Absolute Climate).In this inaugural Removers Roundtable episode, host Na'im Merchant sits down with three leaders in the carbon removal space: Giana Amador (Executive Director, Carbon Removal Alliance), Erin Burns (Executive Director, Carbon180), and Peter Minor (CEO, Absolute Climate). They discuss the current state of US carbon removal policy, industry consolidation, and the sector's evolution from hype to maturity—emphasizing that carbon removal is playing the long game, building toward gigatonnes over decades, not years.Key Topics:* Policy Wins in Appropriations: Congress allocated $45 million for the CDR purchase pilot prize and over $70 million for RD&D at DOE, signaling bipartisan support. The DAC hubs program saw $1 billion redirected, leaving $800 million remaining.* Shift from Hype to “Prove and Learn”: The industry is transitioning to real-world deployment, with opportunities to engage communities and understand practical challenges like permitting and project finance.* Industry Consolidation: Mergers bring advantages of scale including better supplier terms and buyer confidence.* Talent and Long-term Vision: While some talent may leave as the market normalizes, the focus should be on creating durable political coalitions and maintaining strategy rather than reacting to short-term politics.Guest Bios:* Erin Burns is the Executive Director of Carbon180, a US nonprofit focused on scaling carbon removal through equitable, science-based policy and market development.* Peter Minor is the CEO and Co-Founder of Absolute Climate and serves as a Science Advisor to the Carbon Removal Alliance.* Giana Amador is the Executive Director of the Carbon Removal Alliance, a nonprofit coalition focused on advancing carbon removal policy and market development.Relevant Links:* Noah Deich's Substack* The carbon removal sector needs a new story - Robert Hoglund* Durable carbon removal delivers 1 million tons - Carbon HeraldThis 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

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.

Na'im Merchant of Carbon Removal Canada joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy and Climate Finance, to discuss how the carbon removal sector has evolved in the context of changing political dynamics in the U.S. and Canada, the latest national polling results revealing to what extent Canadians support carbon removal initiatives, and the sector's outlook over the medium term. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Green Innovation Is Turning Startups Into the New Powerhouses of the Clean Economy The clean economy is undergoing a dramatic transformation in 2025, and the companies driving it forward aren't the traditional giants — they're startups. Small teams with bold ideas are now reshaping energy, infrastructure, agriculture, materials, transportation, and carbon markets. This shift isn't just technological. It's financial. It's cultural. And it's structural. Investors, regulators, and consumers are aligning behind sustainability with unprecedented speed, creating a climate economy that rewards the nimble over the massive. Why Startups Are Winning in the Clean Economy Historically, clean-energy transitions required enormous capital and long development cycles. But breakthroughs in renewable energy, storage, automation, and AI have lowered costs to the point where early-stage companies can now compete with — and outperform — legacy players. 2025 offers a rare convergence of advantages: • Clean technology is cheaper and more scalable• Public policy now punishes carbon-heavy models• Consumers demand transparent, low-impact products• Investors are aggressively funding climate solutions• AI has eliminated many of the classic barriers to entry This moment favors innovation over incumbency. Sectors Experiencing Explosive Growth Energy Storage & Battery Tech New chemistries and extended-duration batteries are transforming grid reliability and enabling faster renewable adoption. Climate Software & AI Tools Companies offering carbon tracking, energy forecasting, ESG automation, and environmental modeling are in high demand. Circular Materials & Waste Innovation Low-carbon cement, recycled plastics, regenerative materials, and compostable supply chains are unlocking new industrial markets. Green Hydrogen & Industrial Decarbonization Startups are driving solutions that reduce emissions in the hardest-to-abate sectors. Carbon Removal & MRV Platforms This is one of the fastest-expanding segments as corporations seek verified pathways to net-zero. Why Investors Are Pouring Into Climate Tech Capital flows follow predictable patterns: lower risk and higher reward. Clean innovation offers both. With supportive policy frameworks, maturing technologies, and global demand for sustainability, climate investors view 2025 as the strongest entry point in a decade. The full Episode 2 breakdown is live on the Eco Business News Podcast at:

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. 

In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns kick off season three of the podcast with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) researchers Dr. Adam Subhas and Jennie Rheuban to discuss the LOC-NESS project — a small-scale, open-ocean research trial on ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). The project's co-principal investigators join Anna and Wil to recount the process of receiving a first-of-its-kind permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the role of local community engagement, and the project's early findings. A few weeks ago, WHOI completed its highly controlled research trial in the Gulf of Maine to study the environmental safety and efficacy of OAE as a carbon dioxide removal technique. Approved by the EPA after a two-year, rigorous permitting process, the LOC-NESS project introduced small amounts of purified sodium hydroxide – a compound often used to balance the pH of drinking water – to the ocean surface waters, along with a harmless red dye to help track it. This field study came after years of preparation and development, including extensive laboratory experiments, ocean modeling, and a growing body of scientific literature. Dr. Adam Subhas is an Associate Scientist at WHOI and the project lead for LOC-NESS. Adam credits the project's success so far to the comprehensive preparation and collaboration between WHOI scientists and EPA staff — on everything from ocean modeling and biogeochemical impact evaluation, to engaging communities and local industries on what to expect from the research. He also talks about how their pursuit of the first-ever ocean carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) permit under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, helped the LOC-NESS team refine their procedures, improve their approach, and make the project more responsive to feedback from their community.Jennie Rheuban is a WHOI Research Specialist and serves as a co-principal investigator for LOC-NESS. Jennie points to community engagement as a critical component of LOC-NESS's development, recounting the project's years-long effort to engage with questions from a range of stakeholders, including the fishing community. By emphasizing its position as an independent scientific research project without commercial ambitions, WHOI was able to cultivate credibility and gather important community inputs that shaped the scope and methodologies of the research. For example, the team spent additional time researching types of fish larvae in potential field trial regions to bring that information back to the local fisherman.Looking ahead, LOC-NESS researchers will continue to analyze data gathered during this summer's trial to understand the impacts and efficacy of the alkalinity dispersal. More information about LOC-NESS's findings will be shared at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in February 2026.Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal. 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.

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

What's needed to deliver the carbon removal needed to meet key emissions targets in the years ahead? Charm Industrial CEO Peter Reinhardt helps explain what carbon removal and sequestration are and what's needed to scale these further – including the incentive gaps that must be bridged for progress. He'll also share how he and his three roommates from MIT became startup founders together – and how they've stayed friends and partners since, and how they leveraged each person's unique skillsets. He also explains how key moments have helped him sharpen his focus and priorities, and how a CEO coach has helped him develop as a leader. About this episode: Charm Industrial: https://charmindustrial.com/ Epsiode transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/peter-reinhardt-charm-industrial-cabon-capture Related report: Defossilizing Industry: Considerations for Scaling-up Carbon Capture and Utilization Pathways: https://www.weforum.org/publications/defossilizing-industry-considerations-for-scaling-up-carbon-capture-and-utilization-pathways/ Related episodes: 'Do it nearly right, but now' - How effective leaders navigate change and disrupt sectors: Disruption Report: Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/simon-freakley-alixpartners-disruption-index/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/443s16GQ3cBzgI3akxzzIq?go=1&sp_cid=974f0d02895cc3e5dc6ee274371893a7&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=a279d80799654118 A CEO coach shares new leaders' biggest blindspots (and how to overcome them):Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ceo-coach-shares-new-leader-blindspots/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YG6HujYmc4IrD3JSGnyOh?go=1&sp_cid=974f0d02895cc3e5dc6ee274371893a7&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=d0d22380bec54bb7

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.  

The carbon removal industry stands at a crucial crossroads. While cutting emissions remains essential, avoiding catastrophic warming now requires pulling billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere permanently. But as this nascent field grapples with questions of legitimacy, scalability, and accountability, a critical challenge remains: How do we build the infrastructure needed to track, verify, and certify that carbon has actually been removed and stays removed? Meet Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, CEO of Carbonfuture, a company helping define the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) infrastructure that could transform carbon removal from scattered efforts into a functioning ecosystem. Launched five years ago, Carbonfuture has emerged as what CDR.fyi describes as "the largest facilitator of durable carbon removal" by volume. The company's digital platform integrates data across the carbon removal life cycle, connecting diverse approaches like biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and direct air capture with buyers seeking to meet climate commitments. "We are probably more the crowd, the ground keepers in a stadium that makes sure that everything is provided properly," Hannes explains, using a sports analogy to describe their role: "We are the ground keepers in a stadium [who ensure] the players have a playing field that's in shape and no one gets hurt, and the audience can come and they pay their tickets and have a good experience."The MRV infrastructure becomes crucial as corporate demand for verified carbon removal grows and trust becomes currency. One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation centers on balancing data confidentiality with transparency needs, particularly when collecting data along industrial value chains from agricultural residue producers to biochar processors to end users. Perhaps most telling is Junginger-Gestrich's unwavering commitment to scientific rigor over short-term economic gains: "We never had to trade off between rigor and allowing a not so good project on our platform for economic reasons. We always lean to the scientific and rigorous side." This philosophy has guided Carbonfuture's work with leading buyers like Microsoft, helping develop increasingly sophisticated approaches to carbon removal verification. While Junginger-Gestrich expresses concern about delayed emission reductions globally, he remains optimistic about carbon removal scaling: "I think we will be on the path to the gigatons by 2040 for sure." His vision emphasizes ecosystem thinking over vertical integration, aiming to drive down costs while creating network effects that could accelerate the entire field. As governments worldwide grapple with climate policy, the monitoring, reporting, and verification systems companies like Carbonfuture are developing now may well determine the success of our collective effort to reverse climate change. You can learn more about Carbonfuture at carbonfuture.earth.

Ed chats with Jason Walsh, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA).Jason and his organization recently made headlines for opposing the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act—President Trump's sweeping piece of legislation passed this summer that rolls back many of the clean energy tax credits introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act. While a lot of the climate world focused on the emissions impacts, BGA came out swinging over what they saw as a quiet gutting of labour standards, domestic manufacturing momentum, and the link between public investment and good jobs.Jason and Ed discuss:How the bill reshapes the clean energy landscape Whether it really neuters domestic content rules Politics of climate and labour in an increasingly polarized U.S. And what political durability looks like for climate policy heading into 2026About Our Guest:Jason Walsh is the Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA). Named one of the Washington D.C.'s 500 Most Influential People by the Washingtonian, Walsh has more than twenty-five years of experience at state and federal levels in policy development and advocacy in a range of issue areas—including climate, clean energy, and economic and workforce development—and as a coalition organizer and manager.Walsh previously served in the Obama administration, as the Director of the Office of Strategic Programs in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and as a Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Domestic Policy Council, where he led Obama administration's efforts to align and scale up federal investments in workers and communities impacted by the shift away from coal in the power sector.Send us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email)Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts ___Energy vs Climate Podcastwww.energyvsclimate.com Contact us at info@energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

What is carbon mineralization?As defined by the U.S. Geological Survey, “carbon mineralization is the process by which carbon dioxide becomes a solid mineral, such as a carbonate…The biggest advantage of carbon mineralization is that the carbon cannot escape back to the atmosphere.” This generally occurs by injecting carbon dioxide underground into certain rock formations so the carbon dioxide takes on a solid form: trapped and unable to reach the atmosphere. How does carbon mineralization work?Two of the main methods in which carbon mineralization occurs are ex-situ carbon mineralization and in-situ carbon mineralization. With ex-situ carbon mineralization, carbon dioxide solids are transported to a site to react with fluids—like water—and gas. In-situ carbon mineralization is the opposite—fluids containing carbon dioxide are funneled through rock formations in which it solidifies. Both of these methods result in carbon dioxide trapped in a solidified form. In a third method of carbon mineralization, surificial mineralization, carbon dioxide reacts with alkaline substances—such as mine tailings, smelter slags, or sedimentary formations—which result in the carbon dioxide taking on a solidified form. In the case of in-situ carbon mineralization or surificial mineralization, carbon dioxide can react with surface water rather than an artificial fluid, replicating natural processes of carbon mineralization.Currently, the biggest drawbacks and barriers preventing carbon mineralization from taking hold as a major climate solution lie in cost and research uncertainties regarding environmental risks. In terms of cost, the price for carbon mineralization is high: 5 million dollars per well to inject carbon dioxide into rock formations. Further, the risks for groundwater and its susceptibility to contamination through this method is unknown, and the potential side effects of contaminating water formations could be devastating for ecological communities which thrive off of these water systems.Who is our guest?Dr. Rob Jackson is a professor and senior research fellow at Stanford University, and author of Into the Clear Blue Sky, a novel on climate solutions. His lab focuses on using scientific knowledge to shape climate policies and reduce the environmental footprint of human activities. Currently, he chairs the Global Carbon Project, an effort to measure and control greenhouse gas emissions.ResourcesUSGS: U.S. Geological SurveyScienceDirect: A holistic overview of the in-situ and ex-situ carbon mineralization: Methods, mechanisms, and technical challengesNational Center for Biotechnology Information: Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda.Frontiers: An Overview of the Status and Challenges of CO2 Storage in Minerals and Geological FormationsFurther ReadingThe New York Times: How Oman's Rocks Could Help Save the PlanetClimate Break: Rerun: Using Concrete for Carbon Removal with Dr. Erica DoddsFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/carbon-capture-mineralization-with-dr-rob-jackson/

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.

In this latest episode of Ed's occasional podcast Climate Book Reviews, we dive into the wildly imaginative and disturbingly plausible world of Ashley Shelby's acclaimed story collection, Honeymoons in Temporary Locations.Recently named one of Fresh Energy's Favorite Climate Books of 2025 and shortlisted for the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, Shelby's collection has been praised by Scientific American, Foreword, and the Post and Courier for its biting wit, emotional punch, and genre-bending storytelling.Ed is joined by his regular co-host Dr. Roger Thompson—now Director of Writing Programs and Professor at Arizona State University—for a lively, funny, and far-ranging conversation with Shelby herself. They unpack her satirical takes on resistance, inequality and privilege in crisis (think "luxury apocolypse bunkers”), and what it means to grieve - and medicate away - the losses brought on by climate change.Shelby's work has appeared in Slate, The New York Times Book Review, LitHub, Salon, and Audubon, and she's received the Red Hen Press Short Fiction Award, the Enizagam Short Story Award, and the Third Coast Fiction Prize. She's also the author of Red River Rising, an acclaimed account of the 1997 Grand Forks flood.If you like your climate fiction smart, satirical, and maybe a little too close to home, this one's for you.More info and past Climate Book Reviews episodes at: climatebookreviews.coSend us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email)Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts ___Energy vs Climate Podcastwww.energyvsclimate.com Contact us at info@energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

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.

David & Ed chat with renowned scientist, author and Canadian, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe who argues that hope—not doom—is what drives action. Dr. Hayhoe is one of the world's most prominent climate communicators and known for crossing political, religious, and cultural lines to connect with audiences that most climate advocates can't or won't reach. It's an engaging discussion that delves into the psychology of despair, the limits of data in changing minds and behaviour, and whether hope still has a fighting chance. Show Notes:Available on the episode page on our website.About Our Guest:Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on understanding what climate change means for people and the places where we live. She is the Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Professor of Public Policy and Public Law in the Dept. of Political Science at Texas Tech University. She is the author of the book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, has given a TED talk with over 4 million views, and hosted the PBS digital series Global Weirding. Katharine has been named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People, Foreign Policy's 100 Leading Thinkers, and the United Nations Champion of the Environment.Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke PodcastsSend us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email)___Energy vs Climate Podcastwww.energyvsclimate.com Contact us at info@energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

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

In this episode of the Energy Evolution podcast we delve into the emerging field of carbon removal technologies and their role in the fight against climate change.  The discussion highlights various methods, including both technology-based solutions like direct ocean capture and nature-based approaches such as reforestation. Our guests on this week's episode are Jan-Willem Bode, President, Puro.earth, and Steve Oldham, CEO, Captura. Captura is a start-up company focused on capturing carbon dioxide directly from seawater. Puro.Earth is a carbon removal registry focused on removal credits. It created the Puro Standard, which is the world's first carbon standard for engineered carbon removals. Host Eklavya Gupte asks Oldham and Bode about the economic viability and market dynamics of carbon removal credits and addressing skepticism surrounding their effectiveness and cost. The episode also explores the importance of transparency and quality in the carbon credit market, especially as demand grows from both tech companies and compliance markets.   

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.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha's top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Two views on the future of impact investing from Calvert Impact and Innovative Finance Initiative. Temasek makes the case for the private equity opportunity in climate adaptation and resilience (09:10). And, how Mati Carbon plans to leverage its  $50 million X-Prize to remove carbon and support farmers in tropical zones (14:15).Story Links:“Calvert Impact's market-shaping strategy for the future of impact,” by Calvert Impact's Jenn Pryce.“Innovative Finance Network's fund designs for radical impact,” by Innovative Finance Network's Aunnie Patton Power and Doughnut Economics Action Lab's Erinch Sahan.“Temasek on hot sectors for PE investment in climate adaptation and resilience,” by Amy Cortese and Jessica Pothering“Mati Carbon leverages its $50 million XPRIZE to remove carbon and support farmers in tropical zones,” by Jessica Pothering.

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