Carbon Removal Newsroom
A bite-sized podcast for carbon removal news on-the-go. Each episode features unique guests and perspectives.
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Geoengineering vs. carbon removal, and California's Cement Decarbonization legislation
This week on *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, we’re back with a policy-focused episode with panelists Dr. Holly Jean Buck of the University at Buffalo, Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition and host Radhika Moolgavkar of Nori. First up, we’re discussing *an essay from Harvard professor David Keith in the New York Times titled, “What’s the Least Bad Way to Cool the Planet?*” Keith compares Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and geoengineering, pointing out that the two approaches operate on different timescales— CDR will take decades to build up, and longer still to have a significant impact due to the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Solar Radiation Management, a type of geoengineering, could be done with today's technology and theoretically has an immediate cooling effect. There is a lot we don't know but his ‘hunch’ is that geoengineering would work more quickly, be cheaper, and benefit the world’s hotter regions more immediately. He calls for governments to fund more research into the topic so the two techniques can be more accurately compared. We debate David Keith’s main points and Holly Buck describes the socio-technical systems that might be necessary to deploy geoengineering and larger-scale CDR most effectively. Next, we’re looking at the *Cement Decarbonization legislation passed in California* that mandates the state’s cement industry to become net-zero by 2045. *According* to the Climateworks Foundation’s Rebecca Dell, this is the first time any US state has required an industry to eliminate its net greenhouse gas emissions. *Cement production* is the second-largest *emitter* of any industry in California, after only oil and gas production, and it also contributes to significant local air pollution. While the greenhouse gas mitigation from this move is notable, this law also has the potential to provide needed policy support to the carbon removal and carbon utilization industries. We discuss the types of incentives that might be most successful in moving the needle on hard to abate emissions, then end the episode with a good news story of the week from Chris— *Japan is restarting several aging nuclear reactors in an attempt to meet its carbon emissions goals.* --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeIn our first science-focused episode of *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, hosts *Radhika Moolgavkar* of Nori and *Holly Jean Buck* of the University at Buffalo are joined by our new science co-host, *Dr. Jane Zelikova*, executive director of the *Soil Carbon Solutions Center* and joint faculty in crop and soil science at Colorado State University. First this week, we’re looking at new research showing, “*Limited effects of tree planting on forest canopy cover and rural livelihoods in Northern India*,” and understanding why one researcher *referred to the large-scale tree planting program in Northern India as a failure*. We explain the significance of these research findings and the potential improvements necessary to ensure that tree planting achieves its stated goals of sequestering carbon dioxide, increasing biodiversity, and improving the livelihoods of local communities. Plus, a *recent Twitter thread from German journalist Tin Fischer* tells the story of a “Trillion Trees,” a figure that hardly held substance when first suggested, then took off in popular culture faster than climate scientists could shut it down. While it’s a catchy idea, the scientific paper used to support Trillion Trees in 2017 was widely critiqued for miscalculations and ultimately rescinded. We look at why this idea gained so much traction and what the realistic role of large-scale tree planting might be in drawing down carbon and addressing climate change. Finally, we put reforestation up against the portfolio of carbon removal solutions, looking at where it fits in and how it should be funded. We close out the episode with a good news story from Radhika on *the winning bears of fat bear week in Alaska*! Let us know what you think of the show by reaching out to hello@nori.com, we'd love to hear your feedback! *Resources* The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting The Oxford Offsetting Principles & carbon removal, w/ Eli Mitchell-Larson on *Reversing Climate Change* --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeIn this business-focused episode of *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, we’re discussing the major carbontech funding announcements that occurred throughout September, along with the news from Norway’s $1.4 trillion sovereign wealth fund that they’ll be requiring their portfolio holdings to go net-zero. This episode is hosted by Radhika Moolgavkar, Nori’s Head of Supply and Methodology, along with *Holly Jean Buck*, Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University at Buffalo. Plus, give a warm welcome to our new co-host for business-focused episodes: *Susan Su*, partner focused on climate investing at *Toba Capital* and course creator for *Climate Change for VCs*, a course and community through terra.do. *** We start the episode by discussing the news from Norway’s sovereign fund: with *$1.4 trillion of assets*, this fund is the world’s largest single holder of stocks, and is the latest pool of investment money using its influence to decarbonize the economy. The fund currently holds a position in several of the world’s largest oil companies, so achieving ‘net-zero’ may necessitate use of carbon offsets and carbon removal. Meanwhile in the carbontech start-up world, the sustainable chemicals company *Solugen announced $357 million* of new investment in a venture round lead by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund as well as Blackrock, Carbon Direct, and others. Solugen makes chemicals out of sugars, as opposed to the fossil fuel inputs traditionally used by the highly emitting chemical industry. In the future, the company aims to use CO2 as a feedstock, potentially creating a vast new market for CO2 utilization. Also in September, *Prometheus* Fuels announced a $1.5 billion valuation after a series B funding round led by shipping giant Maersk and BMW. Prometheus aims to sell ‘electro-fuels’ by capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere, mixing it with water, and then using proprietary catalysts and filters to restructure the chemical bonds to create hydrocarbons. They also say their product will be cheaper than fossil fuels very soon. Also, Droneseed’s *$36 Million A valuation* is more evidence that the carbontech space is hot. On September 8th, Swiss company Climeworks held a *launch event* for their new Direct Air Capture facility named Orca in Hellisheidi, Iceland. Orca is now the world’s largest DAC plant and plans to capture and permanently sequester 4000 tons of CO2 per year, and turn it into basaltic rock. Charm Industrial *announced* the delivery of 1000 tons of permanent carbon removal ahead of schedule using their bio-oil technology. Finally, Holly Buck finishes the episode with a good news story of the week. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeIn this special bonus episode of *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, we’re bringing you a panel from this week at Climate Week NYC that covers the state of the carbon removal market, as told by today’s buyers and sellers. The panel is hosted by CarbonCure technologies and is moderated by Peter Minor, Director of Science and Innovation at Carbon180. Panelists include: Robert Niven, CarbonCure Technologies Chair & CEO Stacy Kauk, Shopify Sustainability Fund Director Mischa Repmann, Swiss Re Senior Environmental Management Specialist & Marcius Extavour, XPRIZE Vice President of Energy & Climate Listen in for a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the carbon removal market, and to hear goals and predictions for the future of the industry. The panelists discuss the pace of innovation, market making, carbon removal as a de-risking mechanism, and the role that government should play in scaling up the market. Then, the panelists answer an assortment of audience questions during the last 30 minutes of the event. Learn more about each participating organization from this panel at *carboncure.com*, *carbon180.org*, *shopify.com*, *swissre.com* and *xprize.org*. Background details from the Climate Week NYC event page: "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report reiterated that any serious climate strategy must include a portfolio of aggressive emissions reductions paired with robust carbon removal. While policymakers consider pathways to advance carbon removal development and deployment at the massive scale needed by midcentury, private sector leaders are making their own climate commitments. Increasingly, corporate strategies have centered around carbon removal. These early adopters of carbon removal are critical to catalyzing the field and spurring a large-scale cleanup of legacy emissions. Moderated by Carbon180, this virtual Climate Week NYC conversation will include a range of perspectives on both the opportunities and challenges in buying and selling high quality carbon removal credits on our path to net zero." *#climateweekNYC #climateweekCDR* --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeThis week on *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, we’re starting off with an overview of biochar and discussing the main questions and concerns around this technology, including: How does biochar compare to other Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) methods? There is a lot of interest in making biochar, but does the market exist to use it? What can governments do to help scale up the use of biochar as a carbon removal technique? Are any governments taking action yet? Next, we transition to the CDR policy agenda in the United States. We look at the California Climate Crisis Act (AB 1395), which would Codify California’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and no later than 2045. If passed, this bill will set California on course to design a more comprehensive policy framework for CDR than exists in any state so far. The bill language is explicit in planning for technological as well as natural CDR methods and calls for measurable, durable CO2 removal. We also cover geoengineering and its controversies, looking at the Politico article, “The problem with playing God to fix the climate: It might not work.” Finally, our good news to round out the episode is that the team at ClimateScience has created a free online course on the science of carbon removal, with illustrations and quizzes along the way. Panelists Dr. Holly Jean Buck of the University at Buffalo and Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition join host Radhika Moolgavkar of Nori for this episode. *Resources* Introductory Webinar: Methodology for Biochar Utilization in Soil and Non-Soil Applications (Verra) Biochar Protocol (Climate Action Reserve) Does biochar accelerate the mitigation of greenhouse gaseous emissions from agricultural soil? - A global meta-analysis (ScienceDirect) The waste product which could help mitigate climate change (ScienceDaily) Net-Zero Emissions Bill Advances in the California State Senate (EDF) With the Climate Crisis Act, California can lock in a safer pathway to net-zero emissions (EDF) Amid the Misery of Hurricane Ida, Coastal Restoration Offers Hope. But the Price Is High (Inside Climate News) The problem with playing God to fix the climate: It might not work (Politico) Why Geoengineering Is ‘Untested and Untestable’ (The Nation) Climate Science: Carbon removal courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeCarbon pricing bills, forest carbon offsets, & a progressive platform for carbon removal
This week on *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, we’re discussing carbon’s value in various forms. We start by answering the question, ‘What is carbon pricing?’ and look at proposed bills in Congress that are attaching a price to carbon. We look at the value of forest carbon offsets in a world with unprecedented wildfires. We explore A Progressive Platform For Carbon Removal, then we close out the episode with a positive story of the week. Panelists Dr. Holly Jean Buck of the University at Buffalo and Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition join host Radhika Moolgavkar of Nori for this episode. *Resources* The energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act America’s Clean Future Fund Act The Climate Action Rebate Act The Market Choice Act A policy framework for achieving negative emissions (VoxEU) Operationalizing The Net Negative Carbon Economy (Nature) Wildfires are ravaging forests set aside to soak up greenhouse gases (The New York Times) 2021 North American Wildfire Season A Progressive Platform for Carbon Removal (Data for Progress) Activists Call It A ‘False Solution.’ But UN Scientists Say We Need To Suck Up CO2 (The Huffington Post) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeIPCC Report, Infrastructure Bill, and pressure for companies to reach net-zero
This week on *Carbon Removal Newsroom*, we’re discussing the latest IPCC Report, the $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill, and pressure for companies to reach net-zero. Returning panelists Dr. Holly Jean Buck of the University at Buffalo and Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition join host Radhika Moolgavkar of Nori for this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeEnergy Sector Innovation Credit Act & Chevron's troubled carbon capture & storage scheme
Guest panelist Peter Minor, Director of Science and Innovation at Carbon180, joins us in this episode of *Carbon Removal Newsroom* to weigh in on the Energy Sector Innovation Credit Act (ESIC), and panelist Dr. Holly Jean Buck of the University at Buffalo returns to discuss the latest carbon removal news with host Radhika Moolgavkar of Nori. Plus, stay calm during the unexpected tornado warning on Holly’s side near the end of the episode— a coincidental and eerie emphasis of what the daily workday might look like in the era of climate change… (Holly is safe, not to worry!) Also covered in this episode: CarbonCure, a company that is reducing emissions in concrete manufacturing, announced it was carbon neutral in 2020 through carbon removal purchases from Running Tide, greenSand, Charm industrials, and Husk (P.S: To learn more about CarbonCure, check out an episode of Reversing Climate Change we did with Rob Niven of CarbonCure!). Black & Veatch, a global engineering company, was awarded $2.5 million in federal funding to advance direct air capture technology. The U.S. Department of Energy announced intent to fund direct air capture front-end engineering design (FEED) studies, showing the Biden administration’s commitment to carbon removal. Chevron failed to hit the target with their troubled carbon capture and storage (CCS) scheme at their Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Australia. The Energy Sector Innovation Credit (ESIC) Act of 2021 was introduced by Senate and House leadership on both sides of the aisle. This bill aims to create investment and production tax credits for technologies across the clean energy portfolio, including direct air capture. Listen until the end to hear the panelists describe their favorite type of carbon removal! Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeCarbon removal hype, ‘Fit for 55’ climate proposals, and environmental voters
This week, we’re discussing whether or not carbon removal hype distracts from the need to reduce emissions and looking at the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ climate proposals. Panelist Chris Barnard describes the conservative climate rally put on by the American Conservation Coalition, and panelist Dr. Holly Jean Buck explains that our media ecology often rewards climate fear and doom over climate optimism. Our panelists discuss a recent article by Matthew Yglesias, 'What is the climate left doing?' and Holly Buck explains how her sociological research leads her to agree with Yglesias’s perspective in the article. Other carbon removal news discussed in this episode: Carbon transformation startup Twelve (formerly Opus 12) raised $57 million in Series A funding. Twelve is pioneering a new market category called carbon transformation with its proprietary catalyst technology that transforms CO2 into critical chemicals, materials and fuels that are conventionally made from fossil fuels. Carbon Engineering, a firm looking to commercialize nascent "direct air capture" tech, just unveiled a new retail offering for its services in partnership with the firm BeZero Carbon. A recent cover story in Grist discusses soil and forest carbon and features two of Nori's farmers, Kelly Garrett and Trey Hill. The article describes some of the complications around soil and forestry carbon offsets. If you read it and have any thoughts or questions, Tweet us @nori. The European Union unveiled ‘Fit for 55’ climate legislation proposals. Plus, we debate how much power low-propensity environmental voters (LPEV) have in elections. As always, the episode is concluded with a good news story of the week. P.S., we are releasing Carbon Removal Newsroom episodes on an every-other-week cadence through the end of August. If there are topics you’d like us to cover, reach out on Twitter or at hello@nori.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
Listen to the episodeThe U.S. Senate passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act with a strong bipartisan vote. But what does the bill aim to do? And why were more Democrats against this climate bill than Republicans? Plus, a look at soil carbon sequestration’s potential and other carbon removal technologies. Finally, carbon tax proposals are moving forward in Europe— what does this mean for the U.S. and the rest of the world? This episode of *Carbon Removal Newsroom* is hosted by Nori's Head of Supply and Methodology, Radhika Moolgavkar, and features panelists Dr. Holly Jean Buck of the University at Buffalo and Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support
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