Episode 51 is with Erin Burns, Executive Director of Carbon180.

This episode highlights the critical need for long-term strategies and adaptability in carbon removal policies amidst changing political landscapes. Key takeaways include the importance of making carbon removal efforts tangible and real for policymakers by emphasizing measurable impacts and local benefits, the necessity of building broad coalitions and engaging various stakeholders to sustain and expand carbon removal initiatives, and the focus on developing new, specialized carbon removal policies while defending existing programs to ensure continued progress in the sector.

In this episode, Na’im and Erin discuss:

* Erin's unique journey into the carbon removal sector;

* The mission and strategic direction of Carbon180;

* Key policy wins and challenges faced in the carbon removal field;

* The importance of taking a long-term view in carbon removal efforts;

* Strategies for adapting to changing political landscapes;

* Practical advice for carbon removal professionals and companies on maintaining momentum and engagement;

* The necessity of building broader coalitions for durable policy success.

Relevant Links:

* Carbon180 - Website

* Six defining moments for carbon removal in 2024 - Carbon180 Blog

* A Carbon180 cofounder reflects on his time in Biden’s DOE - Carbon180 Blog

* The Carbon Removal Industry’s Trump Playbook - Heatmap News [🔒Paywall ]

About Erin Burns:

Erin shapes the organization's strategic direction while growing the organization's influence in both policy and the carbon removal field. Previously, she worked in the Senate for Joe Manchin handling energy environment, labor, and agricultural issues, including staffing for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the public land subcommittee.

She also worked at third way, a DC-based think tank, managing carbon capture and removal innovation and clean energy. A native of West Virginia. She has worked on the Coal Community transition. Erin sits on the Board of the Good Energy Collective and serves as an advisor to the University of Michigan's global CO2 initiative, the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative, and Absolute Climate.

About Carbon180:

Carbon180 is reversing two centuries of legacy carbon emissions. They work with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and peer organizations across the US to design policies that will bring necessary carbon removal solutions to gigaton scale.

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

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