Is Large-Scale CDR Sustainable?

Lots of news in carbon removal this past week! Frontier made their largest-ever purchase of $58 million from relatively new BiCRS company Vaulted Deep, Climeworks unveiled their Mammoth facility in Iceland, and Microsoft purchased 3.3 million tons of CO2 from BECCs in Sweden. These deals represent significant private market volume in CDR. But a new report in Nature called The carbon dioxide removal gap” highlights some of the policy needs that remain to get carbon removal where it should be to keep us on track for our climate goals. Listen in today to learn about VCM and policy updates from the world of carbon removal, and understand some of the biggest deals this space has yet seen. On This Episode ⁠⁠⁠Wil Burns⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Holly Jean Buck⁠⁠⁠ Radhika Moolgavkar Resources Nature report, "The carbon dioxide removal gap”⁠ Connect with Nori ⁠⁠⁠Nori⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Nori’s X account⁠⁠⁠ Nori’s other podcast ⁠⁠⁠Reversing Climate Change⁠⁠⁠ Nori’s CDR ⁠⁠⁠meme X account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Biochar is an increasingly global carbon removal pathway. What does it look like to do business in Ghana and India? What does it mean for biochar to be decentralized? Mart de Bruijn is the Co-Founder and Director of Carboneers, a Dutch biochar company working to implement carbon removal solutions in India and Ghana. The conversation covers the challenges of securing enthusiastic participation from local farmers, navigating cultural and regulatory landscapes, and the technical aspects of biochar production. Additionally, the episode sheds light on the crucial role of monitoring, reporting, and verification in ensuring the efficacy of carbon credits, alongside the future expansion plans and potential bottlenecks faced by distributed/decentralized carbon removal systems. This episode is hosted by Radhika Moolgavkar, Nori's VP of Supply and Methodology. On This Episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Mart de Bruijn⁠⁠ Resources Carboneers⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Europe has a lot happening for carbon removal, and on several different levels. What is the state of CDR policy and industry? Today's episode has Nori's VP of Supply and Methodology, Radhika Moolgavkar, on hosting duties, and Sylvain Delerce, the Associate Research Direct of Carbon Gap, joining the show to catch listeners up on Carbon Gap and the latest on European carbon removal news. Sylvain highlights the European Union's efforts to structure and fund the industry amidst broader regulatory efforts, and how Carbon Gap fits into the ecosystem. The conversation also covers the importance of distinguishing carbon removal from carbon capture and storage (CCS) in policy texts, the need for a clear EU vision on CDR, and the potential impact of the Net-Zero Industry Act and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework on the industry. Sylvain also discusses the role of individual European countries in advancing CDR and the potential for France to deploy significant carbon removal solutions by 2050. On This Episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠⁠⁠⁠ Resources "Decoding the Net-Zero Industry Act – Implications for carbon removal" by Carbon Gap "Envisioning a carbon removal strategy for Europe" by Carbon Gap --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) recently came out and announced they would be issuing guidance for how some carbon offsets may be used to address Scope 3 emissions (activities beyond direct business operations and energy). This set off a firestorm of protest within and outside of SBTi, as well as some calls of support. It was essentially a tabula rasa one could project one's carbon hopes and fears onto: would this lead to increased financing of sustainability efforts, or result in a race to the bottom of low-quality credits finding a new market? Something in-between, or just too early to tell? In today's episode of Carbon Removal Newsroom, host ⁠⁠⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠⁠⁠, Nori's VP of Supply and Methodology, is joined by her business panelists ⁠⁠⁠Susan Su⁠⁠⁠, a venture capitalist at Toba Capital, and ⁠⁠⁠Na'im Merchant⁠⁠⁠, the Co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, to make sense of this news. They also cover other CDR industry headlines from April, including sustainable aviation fuel, biochar in the global south, and significant subsidy announcements from Denmark and Canada for carbon removal projects. On This Episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Susan Su⁠ ⁠Na'im Merchant⁠ Resources "Inside the Controversy That's Divided the Carbon Offsets Market" at Bloomberg "SBTi is committed to robust governance and will not shy away from debate" by Luiz Amaral, CEO, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) "Carbon Offset Market Faces Chaos as African Mega-Project Collapses" at Bloomberg "Removals are better than some reductions - The case of electrofuels for aviation" by Robert Höglund 2023 Global Biochar Market Report Captura's fundraising news Mission Zero's fundraising news --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Carbon removal is sometimes thought to be enjoying policy tailwinds. But is it anywhere close to what we need to avoid the worst of climate change? A new report from the Rhodium Group suggests the CDR industry is receiving about 1% of what it would need to reach a one CO2 gigatonne/year capacity! Our regular panelists, Drs. Holly Jean Buck & Wil Burns discuss the challenges of government budgeting, politics, eminent domain, profit-sharing Community Benefits Agreements, and so much else as this industry tries to scale. On This Episode ⁠⁠Wil Burns⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Holly Jean Buck⁠⁠ Asa Kamer Resources Rhodium Group's "The Landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal and US Policies to Scale Solutions" report Connect with Nori ⁠⁠Nori⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Nori’s X account⁠⁠ Nori’s other podcast ⁠⁠Reversing Climate Change⁠⁠ Nori’s CDR ⁠⁠meme X account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

InPlanet is an enhanced weathering company spreading rock dust on agricultural fields to draw down CO2. In November, it announced a new investment of $4.6 million from a group of investors. Based in Germany, InPlanet collaborates with farmers in Brazil, aiming to remove 1 million tons of CO2 by 2026. As they work to scale their operations, they face a similar challenge all ERW operations are dealing with right now. While the basic science of rock weathering is well understood, accurately measuring CO2 removal in real-world conditions remains a significant hurdle. Ensuring trust in the process will require improved measurement and verification from what exists today- a problem InPlanet is working to solve.  On this episode we’re joined by InPlanet’s Head of Carbon Matthew Clarkson who recently released pre-print research evaluating the different methods of measuring CO2 removal from rock weathering and made recommendations for areas of improvement.  ERW is technologically ready, has co-benefits, and has already attracted significant investment. It is ready to grow to climate relevant scale- but only if it can be properly measured.  On this episode we’ll talk with Matthew about his MRV research, working on the ground with Brazilian farmers, and what hurdles he sees to InPlanet’s goal of megaton removal in the next three years.  On This Episode Radhika Moolgavkar Mathew Clarkson Resources InPlanet Fundraising News Matthew’s Pre-print paper Enhanced Weathering Alliance Bloomberg article on ERW funding Connect with Nori Nori Nori’s Twitter Nori’s other podcast Reversing Climate Change Nori’s CDR meme twitter account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Criticism of VCM is very common. But what about CCM?! Compliance Carbon Markets face design and political economy issues as well. Could we replace them both with industrial policy? Maybe, but that has trade-offs too. For what is a climate-concerned person to root? This show delves into the fluctuations in the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS) carbon price and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) efforts to boost carbon dioxide removal (CDR) investments through a purchasing challenge. The discussion spans the voluntary versus compliance carbon markets, with a focus on how the EU employs regulatory measures whereas the U.S. leverages financial incentives to address carbon emissions. The episode also addresses the impacts of these policies on multinational corporations, the potential effects on carbon credit pricing, and the interplay between public policy and private sector initiatives in driving innovation in carbon removal technologies. On This Episode ⁠Wil Burns⁠ ⁠Holly Jean Buck⁠ ⁠Radhika Moolgavkar ⁠ Resources "Carbon Removal Is Getting Gamified", Heatmap article from Emily Pontecorvo Connect with Nori ⁠Nori⁠ ⁠Nori’s X account⁠ Nori’s other podcast ⁠Reversing Climate Change⁠ Nori’s CDR ⁠meme X account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Do carbon removal suppliers and registries have a responsibility in choosing their customers, or in enforcing how their carbon removals are used? Is it better that the money go to carbon removal than alternative uses? What matters, and at which magnitudes? In today's episode of Carbon Removal Newsroom, host Radhika Moolgavkar, Nori's VP of Supply and Methodology, is joined by her business panelists Susan Su, a venture capitalist at Toba Capital, and Na'im Merchant, the Co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada. A spirited debate ensues about Shell Environmental Product's purchase of biochar credits, SWISS and Lufthansa Group's support of Climeworks, as well as the Copenhagen Airport's carbon removal portfolio purchase from Klimate.co. This type of industry interest in carbon removal, while directionally correct, can trigger debate within the carbon removal community. Many are happy for the support in scaling the new industry. Others worry it is better to maintain CDR's independence. This question is unlikely to be settled any time soon, but tune in and listen to some hot and yet considered takes on the matter. On This Episode ⁠⁠⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠⁠⁠ Susan Su Na'im Merchant Resources The ETH Zürich report on DAC costs Robert Höglund's response Connect with Nori ⁠⁠⁠Nori⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Nori’s X account⁠⁠⁠ Nori’s other podcast ⁠⁠⁠Reversing Climate Change⁠⁠⁠ Nori’s CDR ⁠⁠⁠meme X account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Law structures so much of our lives, but can feel inaccessible to those untrained. It is also in flux! How is the law being changed in response to climate change? Which laws can be adapted to suit our climate-changing country and world? And which are unprepared for new challenges? Today's episode of Carbon Removal Newsroom is hosted by Radhika Moolgavkar, Nori's VP of Supply and Methodology. She is joined by Romany Webb, the Deputy Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at the Columbia Law School. They discuss the evolving field of climate law, its critical role in the development of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, and the unique legal challenges presented by ocean-based CDR methods. Webb highlights the growing interest among law students in climate technology and emphasizes the importance of legal frameworks in addressing climate change. The conversation delves into the complexities of international and local laws governing oceans, the innovative concept of Community Benefits Agreements for climate projects, and the positive feedback on model law proposals intended to regulate CDR activities safely. The episode underscores the necessity of a diverse portfolio of CDR solutions to combat the climate crisis and explores the legal opportunities and challenges facing the CDR industry’s advancement. On This Episode ⁠⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠⁠ Romany Webb Resources Sabin Center for Change Law at the Columbia Law School Connect with Nori ⁠⁠Nori⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Nori’s X account⁠⁠ Nori’s other podcast ⁠⁠Reversing Climate Change⁠⁠ Nori’s CDR ⁠⁠meme X account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

Biotech trees: the new frontier This week on Carbon Removal Newsroom, we sat down with Maddie Hall, CEO and co-founder of Living Carbon, to discuss how her company enhances the ability of photosynthetic organisms to draw down and store carbon from the atmosphere through the responsible use of biotechnology. Listen in to hear Maddie explain how these trees are designed to absorb more carbon dioxide by leveraging C4 photosynthesis, a more efficient form of photosynthesis. Learn about typical concerns and misconceptions regarding the risks of photosynthetically enhanced trees, and discover why tree resilience is as exciting to Living Carbon as carbon removal. Enjoy this foray into the promising potential of biotech trees! On This Episode ⁠Radhika Moolgavkar⁠ ⁠Maddie Hall⁠ Resources ⁠Living Carbon ⁠ ⁠CRISPER⁠ ⁠Loblolly Pines ⁠ ⁠Open AI⁠ Connect with Nori ⁠Nori⁠ ⁠Nori’s X account⁠ Nori’s other podcast ⁠Reversing Climate Change⁠ Nori’s CDR ⁠meme X account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support