The Carbon Curve Major carbon removal policy developments in Europe
Episode 42 is with Sebastian Manhart, Senior Policy Advisor at Carbonfuture
Sebastian Manhart discusses recent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policies in Europe and the U.S. He points out key policy achievements, compares the EU's and U.S.'s different CDR approaches, and emphasizes the importance as well as the challenges of integrating CDR into compliance markets. He also mentions his own projects aimed at advancing the CDR industry.
In this episode, Na’im and Sebastian discuss:
* recent developments in carbon removal policies across Europe and the U.S.;
* significant policy wins over the past year;
* key legislative approaches to the EU’s carbon removal policies
* Progress from individual European countries in CDR;
* the approaches of the EU and the U.S.;
* the potential and readiness of integrating CDR into compliance markets;
* the importance of government roles and the need for developing domestic CDR industries;
* the founding of the German CDR Association, DVNE, the U.S. Biochar Coalition, and CDRjobs.
Relevant Links:
* How the EU is shaping policies to pursue global leadership in carbon removal (2023)
* US Biochar Coalition website
* Enhanced Weathering Alliance website
* Deutscher Verband für Negative Emissionen (DVNE) website
* Carbon Gap funding EU vs US analysis
* Sebastian Manhart (LinkedIn, Website, Newsletter)
About Sebastian:
Sebastian Manhart is a CDR policy expert. He is the Senior Policy Advisor of Carbonfuture, the world’s leading CDR platform. Sebastian is also the Chair of the Board of the DVNE, the German CDR Association, as well as a founding Director of the US Biochar Coalition. Sebastian also recently founded CDRjobs, the sector’s leading job platform. Previously, Sebastian spent a decade as a tech entrepreneur, advised Angela Merkel´s Chancellery, and worked with governments globally through the World Bank. Sebastian is an economist with a BA from UCL and an MPhil from Cambridge University.
About Carbonfuture:
Carbonfuture builds the trust infrastructure needed to scale CDR. It operates across pathways, focused on developing both MRV and marketplaces services.
The DVNE is the German CDR association, supporting the German government in achieving its ambitious 2045 net-zero target.
The US Biochar Coalition aims to establish high-quality, permanent biochar carbon removal as a key pillar in American industrial and climate strategy.
CDRjobs is the one stop shop for anyone transitioning into, or within CDR with all jobs in CDR in a single place.
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 also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. 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 a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.
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