Reversing Climate Change

CarbonCapture is looking to build a large-scale direct air capture facility in Rock Springs, Wyoming, a town with deep roots in the coal industry. And last fall, the company invited the community to a town hall event to learn more about the initiative, known as Project Bison, and its aim to remove five million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030.How did the people react to CarbonCapture’s plans? And what can the carbon removal industry learn from events like this?Nicholas Kusnetz is an award-winning reporter for Inside Climate News. His work has appeared in more than a dozen publications, including The Washington Post, Business Week, and The New York Times.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Nicholas joins guest hosts Asa Kamer and Siobhan Montoya Lavendar to discuss his December 2022 piece on CarbonCapture Inc’s Project Bison.Nicholas discusses what CarbonCapture’s town hall event was like, describing the wide range of people who attended, and what questions they had for the presenter.Listen in for Nicholas’ insight into other DAC projects taking place in fossil fuel country around the US and learn about the local tradeoffs facing communities at carbon capture sites.Connect with Nori⁠⁠Purchase Nori Carbon Removals⁠⁠⁠⁠Nori's website⁠⁠⁠⁠Nori on Twitter⁠⁠Check out our other podcast, ⁠⁠Carbon Removal Newsroom⁠⁠⁠⁠Carbon Removal Memes on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠Carbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesNicholas at Inside Climate NewsNicholas’ Series—Pipe Dreams: Is Carbon Capture a Climate Solution or a Dangerous Distraction?‘Carbon Removal Is Coming to Fossil Fuel Country. Can It Bring Jobs and Climate Action?’ in Inside Climate NewsCarbonCapture Inc’s Project BisonWyoming Law to Encourage Carbon Capture at Coal PlantsPowder River Basin Resource CouncilExxon’s Proposed DAC Hubs in the Gulf‘Occidental Seeks Texas Property Tax Abatements to Help Finance Its Long-Shot Plan for Removing Carbon Dioxide from the Atmosphere’ in Inside Climate News‘Occidental Is Eyeing California’s Clean Fuels Market to Fund Texas Carbon Removal Plant’ in Inside Climate News

A massive amount of seaweed known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is growing as a response to climate change. To date, it has expanded to a width twice that of the United States.When sargassum reaches the coast, it causes human health problems, destroys ecosystems, and wipes out tourism, usually in communities that don’t have the resources to combat the issue.So, what can we do to prevent these destructive seaweed blobs from reaching coastal regions and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process?Patricia Estridge and Mike Allen serve as CEO and Chief Science Officer, respectively, at Seaweed Generation, a startup using robotics and seaweed to fight climate change.  On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Patricia and Mike join Ross, Siobhan, and Asa to explain how their technology, a Pac-Man meets Roomba meets WALL-E style robot, collects seaweed and sinks it in the deep sea.Patricia and Mike discuss Seaweed Generation’s pilot project with Antigua, describing the advantage their process may have over other methods of carbon removal and how they’ve been received by the community there. Listen in for insight around the growing acceptance of open-systems pathways for carbon removal and learn how you can get involved in helping Seaweed Generation tackle the sargassum problem around the world.Connect with Nori⁠Purchase Nori Carbon Removals⁠⁠Nori's website⁠⁠Nori on Twitter⁠Check out our other podcast, ⁠Carbon Removal Newsroom⁠⁠Carbon Removal Memes on Twitter⁠⁠Carbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesSeaweed GenerationThanks a TonCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterA Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid‘Leveling the Playing Field for Open-System Carbon Removal’ by Dai Ellis & John Sanchez‘Quantification Uncertainty and Discounting’ by Dai Ellis & John SanchezPatricia’s Interview with Mike on the Seaweed Generation PodcastLondon Convention ProtocolThe Ocean Cleanup

A lot of sci-fi writing focused on climate is high literary fiction, which means it’s filled with allusion and often difficult to understand.So, why don’t authors take on climate fiction as a serialized genre like detective novels, zombie books or erotica?Is there a way to make climate fiction more playful without making light of climate change as a global issue?Daniel Backer is the novelist and literature educator behind Off the Wall Novels and the author of Abraham and Lionel Lancet and the Right Vibe.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Daniel joins Ross to explore postmodern and metamodern literature, explaining the postmodern idea that myths guide our decision-making but also make us human.Daniel helps us make sense of Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49, discussing how it plays on the detective genre and why we find comfort in the familiarity of literary conventions.Listen in for Daniel’s take on how literature, at its best, comes from a place of character and learn how a writer might personalize the problem of climate change.Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesThe Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley RobinsonThe Road by Cormac McCarthyInherent ViceThe Illuminatus Trilogy by Robert Anton WilsonV. by Thomas PynchonJordan PetersonOn Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense by Friedrich NietzscheDavid Foster WallaceMary KarrThe Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas PynchonThe OfferBooks by William VollmannThis War of MineHamlet 2: The Creative Process

For people living in affluent parts of the world in the 21st century, we are used to preserving food by way of refrigeration.But this technique is quite new when you consider that people have been preserving food through fermentation for at least 10,000 years.Our ancestors experimented with fermenting to make food more delicious, more easily digestible, and more stable for storage. And there are many reasons why you might want to learn the process yourself.Sandor Ellix Katz is a well-known food writer and self-taught fermentation experimentalist. He is the author of several books, including The Art of Fermentation, Wild Fermentation, and The Revolution will Not Be Microwaved.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Sandor joins Ross to explore the practical benefits of fermentation and explain how our disconnection from food systems contributes to our destruction of the environment.Sandor explains why it’s valuable to maintain the cultural wisdom around preserving food through fermentation and how our health might improve if we relied less on refrigeration and more on fermenting.Listen in for Sandor’s insight on the tradeoffs between pure culture starters versus wild fermentation and learn how to take the first steps in learning fermentation—and why it’s easier than you think!Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesWild FermentationThe Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World by Sandor Ellix KatzFermentation As Metaphor by Sandor Ellix KatzWild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition and Craft of Live-Culture Foods by Sandor Ellix KatzFermentation Journeys: Recipes, Techniques and Traditions from Around the World by Sandor Ellix KatzThe Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America’s Underground Food Movements by Sandor Ellix KatzEd YongLynn MargulisNicolas Appert

In the last five years, an enormous amount of effort has been put into technical and scientific innovation around carbon removal.But what about financial innovation?How can we create more opportunities to finance carbon removal at scale? And what does innovation look like in carbon removal markets?Peter Olivier is Head of New Markets at UNDO, a company that uses enhanced rock weathering to achieve carbon removal at scale.On this bonus episode of Reversing Climate Change, Peter joins Ross and Siobhan to describe the UNDO process, discussing the source of the rock UNDO uses, and why they partner with farmers to spread crushed rock on cropland.Peter shares his take on the forward contract basis of the CDR market, exploring ‘the uncomfortably large amounts of money’ we need to scale and how we might make CDR forwards contracts more fungible.Listen in for Peter’s insight on innovating CDR markets through donor-advised funds and find out how we might be able to influence the future by creating opportunities to finance carbon removal at scale!Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesUNDOPeter on LinkedInThanks a TonAirMinersMonte Carlo SimulationStripe ClimateNeesha Mirchandani on Reversing Climate Change S3EP35BONUS

Carbon capture and storage, or CCS, involves sequestering carbon dioxide emissions from a point source, whereas carbon removal takes existing emissions out of ambient air.And there are a lot of people in the climate community who are for carbon removal and against CCS, arguing that we should shut down these point sources and focus on renewable energy.But is choosing sides the right thing to do?Gagan Porrwal is Global Head of Partnerships for GE Gas Power's Carbon Solutions, where he is building an ecosystem of partners that enable, accelerate, and drive the adoption of CCS applications in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Asian Pacific.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change’s Happy Hour show, Gagan joins Ross and Siobhan to explain why we need CCS to meet our 2030 climate targets and how he thinks about capturing carbon in the flue versus ambient air.Gagan discusses how much power is currently generated by coal or natural gas and describes the reality of how long it will take to transition to wind and solar.Listen in to understand the four key problems facing CCS—social acceptance, economics, infrastructure, and permitting—and find out why we can’t transition to renewables tomorrow, but we can take the next rational step toward clean energy in any given geography.Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesGagan on LinkedInGE Gas Power's Carbon SolutionsThanks a TonOn Deck Climate TechHolly Jean BuckThe Paris AgreementCarbon Removal Meme on Paying for Atmospheric CleanupIEA Climate Research

You can judge the progress of an industry by its number of sh*tty first drafts.And if we have any hope of getting to gigatonne-scale carbon removal by 2030, we need a greater diversity of ideas in the CDR space. We need entrepreneurs who dare to think differently. We need more sh*tty first drafts.So, what can we do to encourage this kind of radical risk-taking in carbon removal? Where can entrepreneurs, investors, and carbon removal buyers go to generate their sh*tty first drafts and then iterate on each other’s ideas together?Adina Mangubat and Tito Jankowski are Accelerator Director and CEO, respectively, at AirMiners, a community that empowers people taking risks to accelerate the reversal of climate change through carbon removal.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Tito and Adina join Ross to discuss the AirMiners Launchpad business accelerator, explaining how it serves early-stage carbon removal startups and why it supports companies across the spectrum of permanence.Tito describes his role in unlocking capital for early-stage CDR startups, exploring how AirMiners helps them sell future carbon credits as a complement to traditional equity investment.Listen in for Adina’s insight around what buyers are looking for in carbon removal startups and learn how you can get involved in the AirMiners community and contribute to the queue of sh*tty first drafts we need to save the planet.Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesAirMinersAirMiners Launchpad Startup AcceleratorAirMiners Investor AcademyAirMiners Investor Demo DayAirMiners Investment FundY CombinatorAirMiners ‘How to Sell a Carbon Credit’ EventAirMiners Boot Up SeriesAirMiners Buyer Demo DayXPRIZE for Carbon RemovalAnne Lamott’s Idea of Sh*tty First Drafts

Startups in the CDR space need to succeed quickly if we want to reverse climate change before time runs out.But the current system requires that climatetech founders often devote time to pitching VCs and filling out multiple grant applications. Time that would be better spent developing their solutions.So, what can we do to connect emerging carbon removal companies with the funding they need to move forward?Neesha Mirchandani is Founder and CEO of Impact Stars, a consultancy that helps planet-positive entrepreneurs raise money and attract clients.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change Happy Hour, Neesha joins Ross, Siobhan and Asa to discuss the magnetic pitch method she uses to support CDR startups in attracting venture capital.Neesha explains what VCs look for in a climate startup and shares her frustration with philanthropy’s failure to fill in the funding gaps.Listen in to understand how we might streamline the grant application process for CDR entrepreneurs and get Neesha’s advice on how to apply business sense to your climate ventures!Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesImpact StarsThanks a TonNa’im Merchant at The Carbon CurveClimate Change vs. Artisanal Cheesemaking on Reversing Climate Change S3EP35AirMinersKiss the Ground Courses‘Who Should Pay for Carbon Removal?’ by Robert HoglundCalifornia Wilderness Coalition

While large, industrial cheesemakers are known for consistency and scale, small operations like Uplands Cheese make boutique cheeses unique to the land where they’re produced.And these small, pasture-based dairy farms have their own unique concerns when it comes to climate change.So, how is extreme weather already affecting operations like Uplands Cheese? How does climate factor into future planning for a 300-acre dairy farm?Cheesemaker Andy Hatch is Co-Owner at Uplands, a dairy farm and cheesemaking operation in Southern Wisconsin. Andy’s team produces two award-winning artisan cheeses, Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Rush Creek Reserve.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Andy joins Ross to explain why his team uses a seasonal model for cheesemaking, describing how Pleasant Ridge Reserve is made in the tradition of Alpine cheeses while Rush Creek is modeled after Vacherin Mont d’Or.Andy discusses how warmer, wetter weather is impacting his cows and what Uplands Cheese is doing to reduce its carbon footprint.Listen in for insight on trends in dairy farming influenced by climate change and learn how to support small dairy farmers like Andy who are good stewards of natural resources.Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesUplands CheeseLiz Thorpe on Reversing Climate Change S3EP31The Book of Cheese by Liz ThorpeDeLaurentiDan Saladino on Reversing Climate Change S3EP16Eating to Extinction by Dan SaladinoColston Bassett Blue StiltonJasper Hill Farm Bayley Hazen BlueRoelli Cheese Dunbarton BluePoint Reyes Farmstead Cheese

Much has been written about the European Theater in World War II.But the war in the Pacific Theater was the largest naval war ever fought. It covered the entire breadth of the Pacific Ocean, and much of the fighting took place in remote, wild environments.How did the conflict impact those environments heretofore untouched by the outside world? And what about the Indigenous peoples who lived there?Ian W. Toll is the author of Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the US Navy and the Pacific War Trilogy—Pacific Crucible, The Conquering Tide, and Twilight of the Gods.On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Ian joins Ross to explain how airbases were built on hundreds of Pacific islands during WWII and describe how the scale of development radically and irrevocably changed the ecosystems there.Ian discusses how hundreds of shipwrecks from WWII have the potential to turn into environmental disasters at any time and weighs in on what we can do to avoid a modern-day war in the Pacific—and why it’s crucial.Listen in for Ian’s insight on the logistical prowess of the US to ramp up shipbuilding during WWII and find out why Admiral Halsey ranked the bulldozer among the five most important weapons of the Pacific War.Connect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on InstagramResourcesIan W. Toll on TwitterSix Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the US Navy by Ian W. TollIan W. Toll’s Pacific War TrilogyPatrick O’BrianTest Ban TreatyWith the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E.B. SledgeThe PacificTales of the South Pacific by James A. MichenerAlfred Thayer Mahan