Reversing Climate Change

Darwin and others theorized that evolution was about the survival of the fittest. But when Peter Kropotkin followed up on Darwin’s research, he discovered the competition was only part of the story of evolution in nature. And Kropotkin argued that cooperation and collaboration among organisms also helps them evolve. So, why is Darwin’s narrative the dominant one? And how can an understanding of mu...

When corn is harvested, the remaining corn stover either gets tilled into the soil or left on top. But what if we took a portion of that corn stover, converted it into carbon-rich bio-oil, and pumped it deep underground? Peter Reinhardt is Cofounder and CEO of Charm Industrial , a carbon removal company that is working on a fleet of mobile pyrolyzers that covert ag biomass into bio-oil and sequest...

Lyn Stoler and Sonam Velani have coined the phrase Climate Industrialism to describe the optimistic, action-oriented response to climate change they already see happening in many communities around the world. Lyn and Sonam define Climate Industrialism as ‘a social and economic system built on the creation of climate technologies that yield human and environmental co-benefits.’ What does that mean,...

Does the carbon removal tech you’re developing have a shot at being cost-competitive in the real world? How might you reduce the cost of a given CDR technology? And how do you convince government funders or investors that your carbon removal idea is viable? A techno-economic assessment or TEA answers these questions. So, what is involved in conducting a techno-economic assessment? And how might it...

The easier it is to participate in a sustainability program like Nori, the less motivation it requires for farmers to enroll. But the current lack of digitization in the ag space makes it challenging for farmers to get paid for carbon removal. So, is there an easy way to track agricultural data and compensate farmers for regenerative practices? Dane Braun is Vice President of Product at Bushel , a...

A lot of good comes from travel. It gives us a chance to disconnect and recharge. It exposes us to new things and helps us connect with nature and other people. Plus, we contribute to the local economies in the places we visit. But travel is not always good for planet. And the climate-conscious among us often feel guilty about the emissions we create when we get on a plane or fill up at the pump f...

Local governments are surprisingly powerful levers for carbon removal. While large national governments can be slow and unwieldy, cities and counties can sometimes be much more nimble. They can get carbon removal projects off the ground quickly and share what they learn with other local governments. So, which municipalities are taking the lead in the CDR space? And how do they integrate carbon rem...

There are few ways for individuals to participate in carbon removal. Typically, carbon removal is something that someone else does that you pay for. But what if there was a way for you to practice carbon removal in your own backyard with biochar? Connor Lascelles and Lottie Hawkins are the Cofounders of Earthly Biochar , a company that manufactures consumer-accessible biochar kilns. On this episod...

We live in a culture that glamorizes grit and derides giving up. But in the world of climate startups, we can’t afford to spend time on projects that aren’t working. So, how do you know when to quit? Decision Strategist Annie Duke is a retired professional poker player and World Series of Poker bracelet holder. She is also the author of several books, including Quit: The Power of Knowing When to W...

Communicating the science behind climate change is a challenge. But when you present these concepts in an artistic way and make the data beautiful, it’s more engaging and easier to understand. And more likely to inspire climate action. Nicole Kelner is Artist-in-Residence at My Climate Journey , where she communicates the complex challenges of climate change in a beautiful, accessible way. On this...

Nori lives at the intersection of climate and crypto, attempting to build a global commodities market for carbon removal on the blockchain. And while we’ve discussed carbon removal at length on the podcast, we’ve spent less time exploring how one might use crypto to determine a reference price for carbon. So, what does Nori look like under the hood? How can we use the blockchain as a tool to get t...

Reforestation (and afforestation) projects can take carbon out of the atmosphere. And yet, in our current system, sometimes only the largest, most well-connected projects can afford the verification process. But what if there was a way to maintain the integrity of the MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) process, while making it accessible to anyone who wants to plant trees? Jeremy Epste...

As a nascent industry, carbon dioxide removal is often misunderstood by the general public. And that makes CDR humor very niche. Maybe only 5% of people will understand it, but those who do really, really appreciate it. Just go to a Halloween party dressed as the Climeworks stock photo, and you’ll see what we mean. Jack Andreasen serves as Manager of Carbon Management in US Policy and Advocacy at...

Do you wish your career was a little more gratifying? That it gave you the chance to work on something you really care about? You don't need a science or engineering background to pursue a career in climate solutions. In fact, a variety of skill sets translate to climate work. So, how do you get into the carbon removal space? Where can you go for resources and networking opportunities? On this edi...

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law. Whatever you might think about, this legislation is certainly the biggest step forward in climate action in our lifetimes. But that’s not the only thing we have to talk about in the Nori Carbon Removal Meme Lab this week! On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Ross sits down with fellow memeologists, Siobhan Montoya Lavend...

For climate startups to find customers, attract talent, and secure funding, they need to communicate their value effectively. But how do you deliver content that explains complex ideas in an accessible way? How do you synthesize information to appeal to a variety of audiences? Nick Van Osdol is a writer on the Nori team, the creator of the Keep Cool newsletter , and host of The Keep Cool Show , a...

How do you create original content in the carbon removal space? In its podcast content, the Nori creative team looks for unique voices, encouraging guests on Reversing Climate Change and Carbon Removal Newsroom to explore nuance. As for their carbon removal memes , the writers are currently mining the movies they watch with their kids and popular online satirical humor (think The Onion and Reductr...

Direct air capture (DAC) is growing in popularity around the world, and it is an important tool for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere. But 30% of all the carbon dioxide we’ve emitted to date is stored in the ocean. So, what can we do to sequester CO2 from ocean water? Is the technology similar to that of direct air capture? How does the process work? Steve Oldham is former CEO of DAC pioneer Carbon E...

Most carbon removal content is highly technical and very serious. But it doesn’t have to be. So, what would it look like to produce carbon removal content that is a little looser? A little less informational? A little more appealing to a lay audience? And a little more fun? On this bonus episode of Reversing Climate Change , Ross sits down with fellow memeologist and Thanks a Ton Cofounder Siobhan...

The direct air capture industry is attempting to recreate the oil and gas sector in reverse—at a highly accelerated rate. And those of us in the space have a tremendous opportunity to build something truly impactful. But how do we educate the general public around the carbon removal technologies at our disposal? Can a well-crafted meme help people understand the benefits of direct air capture? Jas...

As a consumer who cares about climate change, you may be shopping for organic, local, or even regenerative food products. But does your support of sustainable agriculture extend to wine? How does a winemaker earn the certified sustainable distinction? And what does sustainable viticulture look like? Steve Lohr is President and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines , a winemaking operation with vineya...

Here at Nori, we take climate change very seriously. But we don’t want to take ourselves too seriously. So, we developed the Memelab as a way to engage with other carbon removal enthusiasts and introduce a new audience the idea of removing CO2 from the atmosphere—with humor. Asa Kamer is Producer of the Carbon Removal Newsroom podcast. Siobhan Montoya Lavendar is Cofounder at Thanks a Ton . And th...

"We humans are just specks of dust on a slightly bigger speck of dust in the immeasurable vastness of space. We can't cause stars to explode, we don't set the wheels of galaxies spinning, and it is not we who span the vault of heaven above us. But we can marvel at the universe and ask questions about it. We can have faith, hope, and love in this world-and this makes us stardust of a very special k...

The Green Revolution in the second half of the 20th century was seen as an important solution to the problem of malnutrition in the developing world at the time. And while it may have succeeded in staving off hunger, the industrialization of agriculture created a whole new set of problems, chief among them a lack of diversity in our food system. Why does this matter? What is the food monoculture c...

Many of the artists and creators who mint nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are concerned about the environmental impact of the blockchain. But what if they could pair carbon removal with any given NFT to make it carbon-negative? Alexander Salnikov is Cofounder and Chief Strategy Officer at Rarible : a multichain, community-centric NFT marketplace. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Alexander j...