Zero: The Climate Race

There are now 800 carbon removal startups. How many is too many?

Jul 2, 2024

Nan Ransohoff, head of a major carbon removal startup, discusses the saturated market of carbon removal startups and the failure of Running Tide. They explore innovative solutions like biomass removal and direct air capture. The podcast also touches on challenges faced by companies in the industry and the importance of government support.

31:55

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Episode guests

Nan Ransohoff

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Running Tide's failure raises doubts on long-term viability of carbon removal market.

Carbon removal solutions offer innovative ways to sequester carbon beyond tree planting.

Deep dives

Introduction to Carbon Removal Challenges

Carbon removal, often perceived as futuristic and complex, presents solutions to undo climate change through technologies like carbon capture. Despite the familiarity with capturing CO2, its removal from the atmosphere is particularly challenging due to its low concentration and energy-intensive processes.

Intro

6min

Initiating the Carbon Removal Market

12min

Exploring the saturation of carbon removal startups and analyzing the failure of Running Tide

3min

Exploring the innovative kelp sinking method and challenges in the carbon removal industry

3min

Challenges and Policy Interventions in Carbon Removal

9min

Tackling climate change now requires not just reducing planet-warming emissions to zero, but also finding a way to draw down existing carbon dioxide from the air. Over the past few years, tech companies have taken the lead to seed hundreds of startups that want to sell carbon removal credits and help companies meet climate goals. But the failure of a major startup, Running Tide, has raised questions about the long-term viability of the market. This week on Zero, we hear from Nan Ransohoff, head of climate at Stripe, and pioneer of the carbon-removal market.

Explore further:

Past episode with Jennifer Wilcox of the US Department of Energy’s two gigantic carbon removal hub projects
Past episode with Mark Trexler of The Climatographers about what’s wrong with carbon offsets and how to fix them
Past episode with Notre Dame professor Emily Grubert about the state of carbon capture

Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Mythili Rao. Special thanks this week to Kira Bindrim, Alicia Clanton, Anna Mazarakis and Jessica Beck. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

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