Episode 63 is with Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh

Last week, Heatmap reported that Microsoft — the single largest buyer of durable carbon dioxide removal in the world, accounting for 80–90% of all purchases ever made — is pausing new CDR purchases. Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh, Director of the Carbon Management Program at Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy, published a piece over the weekend arguing this isn’t really a Microsoft story. The real story is that Microsoft was ever alone in the first place.

In this conversation, Jack makes the case that voluntary corporate buying was never going to get us to gigatonnes, and that policy has to do the heavy lifting — just like it did for solar and wind. We get into what the next 12 months actually look like for CDR companies, why enhanced oil recovery deserves a fresh look, the limits of 45Q, and the one policy Jack would write into law tomorrow if he could.

In this episode:

* Why Microsoft’s dominance was a structural vulnerability, not market health — and the “seven buyers in a trench coat” problem

* Governments have committed $45M to CDR purchases but spent essentially $0

* The case for enhanced oil recovery and why “greenwashing” arguments fall apart under scrutiny

* Where 45Q falls short and why most CDR pathways still get no support

* Why Big Tech lobbying for CDR policy may be worth more than their purchases

* Jack’s dream policy: a low-carbon-intensity product standard embedded in global trade

About the guest:

Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh is Director of the Carbon Management Program at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He previously led Carbon Management Policy at Breakthrough Energy.

Referenced in this episode:

* Jack’s piece: “The Private Sector Built the Market — Time for Us to Scale It”

* Heatmap’s reporting on Microsoft’s CDR pause

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 62 is with Robert Höglund (Head of Climate Strategy and CDR, Milky Wire; Co-Founder, CDR FYI; CEO, Marginal Carbon).

In this episode, host Na’im Merchant catches up with Robert Höglund to discuss his latest thinking on the carbon removal sector’s trajectory. Robert makes the case that CDR needs a narrative shift away from speed and scale, toward prove and learn. They explore why aviation and shipping are largely ignoring carbon removal in their decarbonization plans, why voluntary demand may outpace compliance demand for the next decade or more, and why the sector should stop treating CDR as a last resort and start positioning it as a legitimate mitigation solution alongside everything else.

Key Topics:

* From “Speed and Scale” to “Prove and Learn”: Focus on driving down costs, proving out methods, and nailing MRV rather than racing toward gigatons by mid-century.

* Voluntary vs. Compliance Demand: Voluntary buyers, led by high-profit, low-emission sectors like tech, could remain the larger demand source for 10 to 15 years.

* Aviation and Shipping’s CDR Blind Spot: Legislation like Refuel EU and Fuel EU Maritime effectively shuts out carbon removal in favor of fuel switching, reflecting an advocacy gap in international forums.

* CDR Is Not a Last Resort: Carbon removal is rate-limited, not stock-limited, and should compete on cost and sustainability alongside other mitigation solutions.

* The Ability to Pay: There are plenty of high-profit, low-emission companies that could be buying CDR today but aren’t yet.

About Robert Höglund:

Robert is the Head of Climate Strategy and CDR at Milky Wire, Co-Founder of CDR FYI, and CEO of Marginal Carbon. He writes reports for Carbon Gap and serves on several advisory groups including the EU Commission’s Expert Group on Carbon Removal and the Science Based Targets Initiative’s Expert Working Group.

Relevant Links:

* The carbon removal sector needs a new story — Robert Hoglund

* Marginal Carbon Substack

* Robert Höglund’s LinkedIn Profile

* The Billion Tonne Blueprint — Carbon Removal Canada

* Removals into Revenue — Carbon Removal Canada

* Advance Carbon Removal Coalition

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 61 is with Giana Amador (Executive Director, Carbon Removal Alliance), Erin Burns (Executive Director, Carbon180), and Peter Minor (CEO, Absolute Climate).

In this inaugural Removers Roundtable episode, host Na’im Merchant sits down with three leaders in the carbon removal space: Giana Amador (Executive Director, Carbon Removal Alliance), Erin Burns (Executive Director, Carbon180), and Peter Minor (CEO, Absolute Climate). They discuss the current state of US carbon removal policy, industry consolidation, and the sector’s evolution from hype to maturity—emphasizing that carbon removal is playing the long game, building toward gigatonnes over decades, not years.

Key Topics:

* Policy Wins in Appropriations: Congress allocated $45 million for the CDR purchase pilot prize and over $70 million for RD&D at DOE, signaling bipartisan support. The DAC hubs program saw $1 billion redirected, leaving $800 million remaining.

* Shift from Hype to “Prove and Learn”: The industry is transitioning to real-world deployment, with opportunities to engage communities and understand practical challenges like permitting and project finance.

* Industry Consolidation: Mergers bring advantages of scale including better supplier terms and buyer confidence.

* Talent and Long-term Vision: While some talent may leave as the market normalizes, the focus should be on creating durable political coalitions and maintaining strategy rather than reacting to short-term politics.

Guest Bios:

* Erin Burns is the Executive Director of Carbon180, a US nonprofit focused on scaling carbon removal through equitable, science-based policy and market development.

* Peter Minor is the CEO and Co-Founder of Absolute Climate and serves as a Science Advisor to the Carbon Removal Alliance.

* Giana Amador is the Executive Director of the Carbon Removal Alliance, a nonprofit coalition focused on advancing carbon removal policy and market development.

Relevant Links:

* Noah Deich’s Substack

* The carbon removal sector needs a new story - Robert Hoglund

* Durable carbon removal delivers 1 million tons - Carbon Herald

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 60 is a special ask me anything style episode with Na’im Merchant and Rahima Dosani

In this annual “flip the script” episode of The Carbon Curve, Na’im is back in the hot seat as his wife Rahima Dosani interviews him AMA-style to reflect on the past year in carbon removal and life outside of work.

The conversation starts with personal (and intentionally uncomfortable) questions—turning 40, parenting two young kids, and hard-earned life lessons—before zooming out to the state of carbon removal in 2025. Na’im shares why 2025 felt like a year of renewal at Carbon Removal Canada, what climate pullback has meant for the sector, why he’s even less patient than last year with narratives that dismiss carbon removal as a “distraction”, and the people who inspire him in the carbon removal community.

In this episode, Na’im and Rahima discuss:

* Turning 40: practical life lessons and hot takes

* Parenting a 3.5-year-old and 1.5-year-old and why year two can feel harder than year one.

* Why 2025 felt like “renewal” at Carbon Removal Canada

* What climate pullback is changing: a shift from targets and rhetoric toward delivery, results, and co-benefits.

* 2025 carbon removal highlights: record contracting volumes, the XPRIZE outcomes, and policy momentum in Europe

* Leadership lessons and people who have inspired Na’im in 2025

Relevant links

* Carbon Removal Canada and registration link for Carbon Removal Day (March 5th in Ottawa)

* The Carbon Console tracking 12+ megatonnes of carbon removal projects in Canada

* Tank Chen and team’s excellent work over at CDR.fyi tracking sales and deliveries

* XPRIZE Carbon Removal winners Mati Carbon

* Vaclav Smil white paper on physical infrastructure transition

* Erin Burns Substack (Carbon180 Executive Director)

* Sebastian Manhart, the CDR Policy Scoop podcast, and Gigaten Monthly newsletter

* Robert Höglund on carbon removal as mitigation, not a last resort

* Chris Neidl (High-Level Climate Champions) and Chris Sherwood (The Negative Emissions Platform) on getting carbon removal on the COP agenda and its own pavilion

About Rahima Dosani

Rahima Dosani is the Director of Strategy, Learning, and Innovation at Global Health Visions, a women-owned global health consulting firm . She previously worked at USAID’s Center for Innovation and Impact and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, with experience in Myanmar and Malawi, after starting her career in strategy consulting in New York City .

Rahima holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health .

About Na’im Merchant

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 publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and hosts The Carbon Curve podcast, exploring the people, policies, and technologies needed to scale carbon removal globally.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 59 is with Rory Brown, Co-Founder & CEO at Airhive

In this episode, Na’im speaks with Rory about his journey into carbon removal technology with a focus on direct air capture (DAC). Other major themes include the importance of financing, the policy landscape for carbon removal in different regions, and the need for transparency about DAC costs.In this episode, Na’im and Rory discuss:

* Rory’s transition to climate and DAC

* The founding and growth of Airhive, including their technology and team

* Key features and operational efficiency of Airhive’s DAC technology

* The operational progress of their 1,000 tonne per year commercial demonstrator in Alberta, Canada

* The main barriers to scaling DAC and how Airhive addresses these challenges

* The complexity and transparency issues around the cost of DAC

* Future projections and cost reduction goals for DAC technology

* The benefits and opportunities of deploying DAC technology in Alberta, Canada

* The role of policy in shaping the global development of carbon removal technologies

* Airhive’s plans for future projects, including CO2 supply for industrial processes and further R&D advancements

Relevant Links:

* Airhive - Website

* List of Airhive’s current and upcoming projects - Webpage

* The launch of Airhive’s operation at Deep Sky Alpha - Article

* More details and registration for Carbon Removal Day 2026 (in-person only)

About Rory Brown and Airhive:

Rory is the CEO of Airhive, which he co-founded in 2022 after nearly a decade and a half in international affairs. Airhive is a London, England-based DAC developer. Founded in 2022 by Rory and CTO Dr. Jasper Wong, Airhive are a team of 15 engineers and operators with active pilot and commercial projects in the UK, Canada, EU and Asia-Pacific. An XPRIZE Carbon Removal Finalist, they recently announced they have begun capturing CO2 from their 1,000 tonne per year commercial demonstrator at the Deep Sky Alpha facility in Alberta, Canada.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 58 is with Marc Roston (Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy) and Peter Minor (Absolute Climate)

This episode features Marc Roston, senior research scholar at Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy, and Peter Minor, co-founder of Absolute Climate. They explore fundamental flaws undermining voluntary carbon markets, focusing on how carbon credits are accounted and valued. Mark explains challenges like the “original sin” of credit retirement, custody issues, and fungibility differences among carbon removal types. Together, they discuss a new concept of carbon delivery companies as long-term counterparties to enhance accountability and trust. The dialogue highlights the urgent need to align carbon market practices with the realities of durable climate impact and robust financial frameworks.

In this episode, Na’im, Peter, and Marc discuss:

* The problems with current carbon accounting and credit retirement;

* The distinction between emissions reductions and carbon removals;

* The concept of carbon delivery companies and long-term liabilities, and the need for fungibility in carbon credit markets;

* Solutions for aligning short-term and long-term carbon liabilities;

* Emission liability management as a core concept to improve carbon markets

* The necessity of differentiating between avoidance and removal credits in trading markets

* Experimentation in policy and trading to create a reliable market infrastructure for carbon removal

Relevant links:

* The Market That Won’t Trade: Fixing Structural Failures in the Spot Market for Carbon Removals - Paper

* What’s next after carbon accounting? Emissions liability management - PaperAccounting for Climate Change - Article

* Sustainable Finance Initiative - Website

* Absolute Climate - Website

About Marc:

Marc Roston is a Senior Research Scholar at the Precourt Institute for Energy in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability where he leads research efforts in carbon accounting and carbon markets, financial institution transitions and climate-related insurance markets. He’s also a Senior Fellow at the E-ledgers Institute, where he’s been helping to define the concept of E-liabilities. Prior to joining Stanford in 2020, Roston spent 25 years in the asset management industry where he held senior investment positions in quantitative finance, private equity, and advisory services. He earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Economics at Carnegie Mellon University.

About Peter:

Peter Minor is a co-founder of Absolute Climate, which is building independent standards that apply universal assessment criteria to all CDR pathways. A veteran of the carbon removal industry, he previously served as the Director of Science & Innovation at Carbon180. While there, he contributed to the development of key programs like the DOE Regional DAC Hubs, and pioneered core principles required for high-accountability MRV. A UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering PhD by training, he applies his expertise in sensors, numerical modeling, and carbon removal science towards building the MRV solutions needed to unlock gigaton scale.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 57 is with Adam Fraser, CEO of Terraset.

In this episode, Na’im speaks with Adam Fraser about Terraset, an innovative nonprofit dedicated to removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They discuss Adam's background in sports journalism and his transition to climate action. They highlight the unique approaches Terraset uses to fund carbon removal, including a recently launched revolving fund which pre-purchases carbon removal and reinvests proceeds to create a sustainable funding model. They also discuss the importance of philanthropic capital to catalyze the nascent carbon removal industry and how Terraset collaborates with various stakeholders to support and scale early-stage carbon removal companies. The episode delves into the diverse motivations and profiles of Terraset’s donors, the gaps and challenges in funding permanent carbon removal and potential solutions, and the future plans for Terraset and how interested parties can get involved.

In this episode, Na’im and Adam discuss:

* Adam’s journey into carbon removal;

* Terraset’s mission and approach;

* Challenges and opportunities in funding carbon removal;

* Innovative funding models for carbon removal;

* Terraset's Revolving Fund.

Relevant Links:

* What carbon removal suppliers need most in 2025 - Terraset Survey Finding

* Launching the Terraset Revolving Fund - Terraset Substack

* New carbon removals fund aims to spur project development - Trellis

About Adam:

In 2023 he was named as the first CEO of Terraset, a nonprofit focused on removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Prior to Terraset, Adam served as Chief Executive of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a global nonprofit founded under the Patronage of Nelson Mandela after the role he saw sport play in rebuilding post-apartheid South Africa. He now sits on the organization’s 501(c)(3) Board, as well as the Board of YPO Manhattan. He has worked as a journalist and writer, communications lead, and nonprofit brand and business development specialist, and has built successful funding partnerships on every continent.

Background on Terraset:

Terraset is a nonprofit that uses philanthropic capital to catalyze the nascent carbon removal industry. They pool tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, family offices, and donor-advised funds, and make strategic purchases of permanent, high-quality carbon removal from innovative projects and companies.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 56 is with Jonathan Rhone and Natalie Khtikian, co-founders of CO280.

In this episode, Na’im speaks with Jonathan and Natalie about their groundbreaking work in large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects, specifically in partnership with pulp and paper companies. They discuss their innovative approach to carbon removal by partnering with pulp and paper companies. They highlight the importance of leveraging existing industrial frameworks to scale effectively. The episode delves into their successful partnerships with major companies like JP Morgan and Microsoft, and the critical role of government policies in facilitating large-scale carbon removal projects.

In this episode, Na’im, Jonathan, and Natalie discuss: 

* Their journey into carbon removal and founding CO280;

* The challenges and opportunities of integrating carbon removal technology with the pulp and paper industry

* CO280's business model and project financing strategies

* Recent high-profile agreements with companies like Frontier, Microsoft, and Frontier;

* Technical and logistical aspects of CDR project development;

* The importance of regulatory and policy certainties for supporting the CDR market; and

* The outlook and future plans for CO280.

Relevant Links:

* CO280 - Website

* CO280 and Frontier’s offtake agreement - Article

* Why Microsoft is buying carbon credits from a pulp and paper mill - Article by Trellis

* CO280 and JPMorgan’s offtake agreement - News

About Jon

Jonathan Rhone is a serial cleantech entrepreneur with extensive experience commercializing hard-tech, developing large-scale projects, and partnering with industrials to solve tough energy and environmental problems. As co-founder and CEO of Axine Water, he led commercialization of a disruptive technology and hardware-as-a-service model for the pharmaceutical and other industrial markets.​

Jonathan is also co-founder and director of Evok Innovations, where he helped launch one of Canada’s largest and most successful cleantech venture funds. As founder and CEO of Nexterra Systems, he created a global supplier of bioenergy heat and power systems for industrial and institutional customers. Prior to Nexterra, he held leadership positions with a NASDAQ-listed cleantech company, and the Delphi Group. He began his career in oil and gas with Amoco Canada (now BP).

About Natalie

Natalie Khtikian is a commercialization and sales leader with experience spanning software, advertising, and hard-tech. She is cofounder and chief commercial officer at

Prior to joining CO280, Natalie was Climeworks' first employee in North America, before pivoting to climate tech, Natalie was part of two teams that were acquired by Google, Wildfire Interactive and Waze. There, she worked with Fortune 50 clients and opened new markets and verticals. Natalie also was VP of Sales for Yondr, a hardware team focused on removing cellphone distraction from shows, events, and spaces.

About CO280

CO280 is a developer of large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects. In partnership with pulp and paper companies, CO280 develops, finances, owns, and operates carbon removal projects that deliver a new standard of permanent, verifiable, and affordable CDR credits to customers in the carbon market.  They have more than 10m tonnes per year of CDR under development in the US and Canada.  They have had recent public CDR customer announcements with JPMorgan, Microsoft, and Frontier.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 55 is with Will Kain, Founder & CEO of Avnos

In this episode, Na’im speaks with Will Kain about the advancement and commercialization of hybrid direct air capture (HDAC) technology at Avnos. The conversation also covers Will’s journey into the climate tech space, the unique hybrid DAC approach and the resource-efficient and cost-effective benefits of HDAC, as well as the challenges of scaling DAC technologies and the role of supportive policy regimes.

In this episode, Na’im and Will discuss: 

* Will’s journey in carbon removal

* Avnos’ approach to Direct Air Capture Technology

* Avnos’ latest project, Brighton, and future plans

* The importance of partnership and policy support

* Challenges and opportunities in scaling DAC

Relevant Links:

Avnos - Website

Avnos HDAC Technology - Explainer - Youtube

Avnos’ Demonstration Unit in Bridgewater, NJ - News

About Will Kain:

Will is the Founder & CEO of Avnos, bringing nearly a decade of leadership experience across early-stage cleantech companies. He previously launched Rusheen Capital Management and served as VP of Corporate Development at NanoH2O, a global desalination tech company. Will began his career at UBS Investment Bank and holds a BA in Economics and Government from the University of Virginia.

About Avnos:

Avnos is commercializing a unique approach to direct air capture – Hybrid Direct Air Capture (HDAC™) – which removes CO2 from the air, while producing water and requiring no external heat. The result is a resource-efficient, geographically flexible, and cost-effective approach to DAC. Avnos’ approach has been awarded multi-million-dollar projects from the U.S. Department of Energy and has backing from the U.S. Office of Naval Research to pilot DAC-sourced CO2 for e-fuels production.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you’d like to get in touch with Na’im, you can reach out via LinkedIn.

Episode 54 is with Shantanu Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Mati Carbon and Nikki Batchelor, Executive Director for the $100M Carbon Removal XPRIZE.

In this episode, Na’im delves into the groundbreaking achievements in carbon removal led by Mati Carbon and the XPRIZE Carbon Dioxide Removal Competition. Shantanu Aggarwal, CEO of Mati Carbon, discusses winning the $50 million grand prize of the XPRIZE competition. Nikki Bachelor from XPRIZE highlights the competition’s impact in catalyzing the carbon removal market, with insights into scaling solutions and responsible deployment. The conversation covers the intersection of carbon removal, economic development, and global collaboration to combat climate change.

In this episode, Na’im, Nikki, and Shantanu discuss: 

* The journey and development of the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Prize; 

* The catalytic impact of XPRIZE on the carbon removal industry; 

* The significant achievements and challenges faced by the finalist teams; 

* Mati Carbon’s strategy and successes, specifically their work with small holder farmers; 

* The importance of maintaining high standards for carbon removal verification and community engagement; 

* The ambitious goals and global development impact driven by Mati Carbon's enhanced rock weathering approach; and

* Future directions and initiatives for XPRIZE.

Relevant Links:

* XPRIZE Carbon Removal - Website

* XPRIZE Carbon Removal Winners - Article

* Meet the Winners - Video

* Mati Carbon - Website

About Shantanu:

Shantanu Agrawal is a serial entrepreneur with over 22 years of experience in the energy and sustainability sectors. He holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is a Schmidt Innovation Fellow and a Henry Fellow, recognized for his work in advancing scalable climate solutions in the Global South. As the Founder & CEO of Mati Carbon, he directs strategy,fundraising and leads cross functional teams to deliver large-scale carbon-removal initiatives that strengthen climate resilience for smallholder farmers. Prior to founding Mati Carbon, Shantanu co-founded Sustaera, a Direct Air Capture company. He has also led investments in a number of energy and industrial tech startups in the past as a general partner in a venture capital fund.

About Nikki:

Nikki Batchelor is the Executive Director for the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal, a competition supported by the Musk Foundation to drive innovation, market adoption, and responsible deployment of carbon removal solutions. In this capacity she oversees program operations, develops partnerships, and leads strategic initiatives on topics such as environmental justice and investor engagement, including the Circular Carbon Network that provides market insights for the growing carbon tech and carbon removal sectors. Nikki also supports XPRIZE’s work across the Energy & Climate Domain and previously managed operations and impact programs for the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE from 2015-2021. She also serves on the Carbon Business Council Board of Directors and Puro.Earth Advisory Board.

Background on Mati:

Mati Carbon does durable carbon removal through Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) with smallholder farmers of the Global South. The company partners with smallholder farmers to apply finely ground basalt to croplands, accelerating the natural geochemical process of rock weathering that permanently removes atmospheric CO₂ while restoring soil fertility and increasing crop yields.Mati Carbon is the winner of the $50M XPRIZE Carbon Removal Grand Prize, and its high-quality carbon credits are purchased by marquee buyers including Stripe, Shopify, H&M, and Siemens. By the end of 2025, the company is on track to engage 30,000

Background on XPRIZE:

XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing, launching, and executing large scale competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. The XPRIZE unique model democratizes innovation by incentivizing crowd-sourced, scientifically viable solutions to create a more equitable and abundant future for all.

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 on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. 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 the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

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