Inevitable Ep 61: Julio Friedmann, Senior Research Scholar & Lead of CaMRI Initiative at Columbia University
Today’s guest Dr. Julio Friedmann, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
Dr. Friedmann 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&D program in advanced fossil energy systems, carbon capture, and storage (CCS), CO2 utilization, and clean coal deployment. His expertise includes Large-Scale Carbon Management, CO2 removal, CO2 recycling, Oil and Gas systems, international engagements in clean fossil energy, and inter-agency engagements within the US government. He has also held positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, including Senior Advisor for Energy Innovation and Chief Energy Technologist. He is also the CEO of Carbon Wrangler, LLC, is a Distinguished Associate at the Energy Futures Initiative, and serves as a special advisor to the Global CCS Institute. He was recently named as a Senior Fellow to the Breakthrough Institute and the Climate Leadership Council.
Dr. Friedmann is one of the most widely known and authoritative experts in the U.S. on carbon removal (CO2 drawdown from the air and oceans), CO2 conversion and use (carbon-to-value), and carbon capture and sequestration. His expertise includes technology, policy, and operations. In addition to close partnerships with many private companies and NGOs, Julio has worked with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Treasury.
Dr. Friedmann received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed by a Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Southern California. He worked for five years as a senior research scientist at ExxonMobil, then as a research scientist at the University of Maryland. He serves as a formal and informal advisor to several clean energy and CarbonTech companies.
In today’s episode, we cover:
- Julio’s current work at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, leading an initiative called the Carbon Mitigation Research Initiative, CAMRI.
- Julio’s prior work, including at places like Lawrence Livermore National Lab, DOE, and ExxonMobil.
- When Julio started caring about climate change, how that came about, and how his thinking on the problem has evolved over the years.
- What culpability the fossil fuel industry has, and their role in the climate fight looking forwards.
- Julio’s current work in emissions-heavy industries.
- The role of government.
- The role of carbon capture, and best ways to accelerate.
- The importance of prioritization, based on big levers but also on what’s doable.
- The role of consumers.
- How Julio would allocate a big pot of money to maximize its impact in the climate fight
- Julio’s advice for the most important things you and I can do to help.
Links to topics discussed in this episode:
- Dr. Julio Friedmann bio: https://energypolicy.columbia.edu/dr-julio-friedmann
- Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy: https://energypolicy.columbia.edu/
- Mr. Peabody and Sherman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peabody_%26_Sherman
- Lee Raymond: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Raymond
- Stratigraphy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratigraphy
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab: https://www.llnl.gov/
- DOE: https://www.energy.gov/
- Ernie Moniz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Moniz
- Office of Fossil Energy: https://www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy
- Jonathan Pershing: https://hewlett.org/people/jonathan-pershing/
- Melanie Kenderdine: https://www.energy.gov/policy/contributors/melanie-kenderdine
- Howard Gruenspecht: https://www.csis.org/people/howard-gruenspecht
- Hu Jintao: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu_Jintao
- Xi Jinping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping
- Vaclav Smil: http://vaclavsmil.com/
- Pete Buttigieg: https://peteforamerica.com/meet-pete/
- Climeworks: https://www.climeworks.com/
- Geoengineering: http://www.geoengineering.ox.ac.uk/www.geoengineering.ox.ac.uk/what-is-geoengineering/what-is-geoengineering/
- Chemtrails conspiracy theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemtrail_conspiracy_theory
You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant