A year ago, the Nordic Carbon Removal Association (NCRA) didn't exist. Today, it has 37 members, a seat at the table in Brussels, and a founding story that reads a lot like a startup's. In this episode of What Goes Up Must Come Down, Klimate's Simon sat down with Valter Selén, co-founder and Secretary General of the NCRA, and Alexander Mäkelä, Chief Policy Officer at Carbon Gap and NCRA co-founder, to talk through how the association came together, where Nordic carbon dioxide removal (CDR) stands today, and what's needed to turn the region's potential into real, permanent removal capacity.

In this episode of What Goes Up Must Come Down, Simon spoke with Kurt Jager Lykke, Head of Business DK at INEOS Energy and head of Project Greensand. Kurt has led the commercial side of Greensand since its inception and took over as project head in 2024. Their conversation covers the project's origins, the organisations that made it possible, and what the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector can take from it.

In this episode of What Goes Up Must Come Down, Simon is joined by Stacy Kauk, Chief Science Officer at Isometric, a carbon registry. Together, they explore the challenges of scaling a market where buyers do not fully trust what they are buying, suppliers struggle to finance what they are building, and the science is still catching up with the ambition.

In this episode of What Goes Up Must Come Down, Simon is joined by Berend De Haas, co-founder of Carboneers, a distributed biochar supplier in India and Ghana. Together, they explore the challenges of running biochar projects across multiple countries, the impact of Carboneers’ initiatives, and what the future holds for biochar as a carbon removal solution.

In this episode of What Goes Up Must Come Down, Simon is joined by Marian Krüger, founder of Remove, a nonprofit supporting carbon removal startups worldwide. Together, they explore the motivations behind why companies buy carbon removal credits and how compliance will shape the sector’s future.

In this episode, Simon Bager, Co-Founder and COO at Klimate, speaks with Noah McQueen, Director of Science and Innovation at Carbon180, about CDR in a systems thinking perspective, geopolitical uncertainties, and resilience systems.

In this episode, host Simon Bager, PhD speaks with Sophie Bruusgaard Jewett from Morescope discuss how sustainability professionals can maintain climate momentum while navigating shifting political priorities and tighter budgets, plus how strategic leadership and innovation play a key role in managing that complexity. 

Head to klimate.co/podcast for summaries and guest details.

In this episode, host Simon Bager, PhD speaks with Tobias Johan Samson from Concito to unpack the true cost and climate benefit of different CO₂ strategies. From permanent underground storage to synthetic aviation fuels (e-fuels), they explore what delivers the most bang for our climate buck.

Head to klimate.co/podcast for summaries and guest details.

In this episode, host Simon Bager (PhD) sits down with Tank Chen, co-founder of CDR.fyi, to delve into the evolving landscape of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). They discuss the significant growth in the CDR market, the role of major corporate players, and the emergence of technologies like biochar and direct air capture. The conversation also highlights regional developments in Asia and the Nordics, offering insights into how different parts of the world are approaching carbon removal. Tune in to understand the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of CDR.

Head to klimate.co/podcast for summaries and guest details.

In this episode, host Simon Bager (PhD) sits down with Alex Schmidt from Normative to talk about the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) proposed updates and what they could mean for corporate net-zero strategies. From tightening rules around Scope 3 emissions to the growing role of Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM), they explore why early investment in carbon removal is becoming more important — and more strategic — than ever. Tune in to understand what’s changing, and why it matters.

Disclaimer: (SBTi) has released the next draft of their new net zero standard since this episode aired.

Head to klimate.co/podcast for summaries and guest details.