Steve Oldham, associated with Captura, dives into revolutionary carbon removal solutions. He discusses the practicality of sucking CO2 from the air and highlights their innovative ocean-based technology. The conversation expands on scaling these solutions, the crucial economics of climate tech, and how the space industry mirrors these environmental challenges. Oldham also reflects on moving from England to Canada and shares insights on raising $60M for climate initiatives, addressing the critical role of regulation and political will in the climate landscape.
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Quick takeaways
Steve Oldham emphasizes the importance of using the ocean as a carbon sink to enhance efficiency in carbon capture efforts.
The discussion highlights the urgent need for diverse carbon removal technologies and regulatory support to achieve net-zero emissions effectively.
Deep dives
Navigating the Tragedy of Mike Lynch
The podcast reflects on the tragic passing of Mike Lynch, a prominent figure in the tech world, who died in a boating accident along with his daughter. His recent victory in a high-profile fraud case underscored a significant turning point in his life, making his sudden death even more shocking. The speaker expresses condolences to Lynch's family, highlighting the profound human loss felt by those who knew him. This serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of valuing our relationships.
Understanding the Climate Crisis
The discussion shifts to the pressing issue of climate change, emphasizing the potential for massive human displacement due to rising temperatures and the inability to grow essential crops. The historical context of conflicts driven by resource scarcity is included, underscoring how climate change could lead to similar crises. A significant concern is raised about the inefficacy of current carbon capture technologies, especially those like direct air capture that show limited progress over the years. This skepticism highlights the urgency of finding effective solutions to combat climate change before it escalates further.
Innovative Solutions in Carbon Removal
Steve Oldham, CEO of CapTura, introduces a novel approach to carbon removal by leveraging the ocean as a natural carbon sink instead of traditional land-based methods. This technology aims to extract CO2 from ocean water, where concentrations are significantly higher than in the atmosphere, thus facilitating more efficient carbon capture. The process utilizes electro-dialysis, a technique that reduces waste and maintains oceanic balance, allowing for a cleaner method of addressing climate change. The company's recent funding of $45 million highlights the growing interest and potential for innovative climate tech solutions.
The Path Forward for Climate Tech
Oldham discusses the importance of scaling carbon removal technologies to meet the annual global CO2 emissions of approximately 40 gigatons. He emphasizes that reliance on one single solution is insufficient; instead, a mix of approaches, including reforestation and direct capture, is essential. The conversation also touches on the need for societal and governmental support through regulations that would obligate companies to achieve net-zero emissions. Such policies could drive investment and innovation in sustainable technologies, ensuring that viable carbon removal solutions are developed and implemented effectively.
The Sunday Times’ tech correspondent Danny Fortson brings on Steve Oldham of Captura, to talk about why sucking CO2 out of the air is not a bad idea (6:30), using the ocean (10:00), their contraption (11:15), whether it can be done at scale (16:45), the maths of climate solutions (19:00), paying for it (21:00), the evolution of carbon removal tech (26:00), moving to Canada from England (30:00), how the space industry is like climate (31:45), the role of regulation (34:15), raising $60m (37:45), and politics (41:30).