This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 30th November 2021.
Critical Conversations: The Climate Imperative Post-COP
In partnership with Credit Suisse
Carbon offsetting as a solution to the climate crisis faces an inescapable barrier: time, or rather – the lack of it. Tree-planting, briefly one of the most popular and commonplace methods of carbon capture, is facing criticism for its limitations. Companies promising to offset their emissions by planting trees are facing criticism for lack of proper planning, setting unrealistic goals, and ‘green washing’. Could Carbon Capture and Removal (CCR) technology, which purports to be able to capture and store carbon emissions, be an alternative solution? The innovation is there – but it is yet to be proven to work on scale. Is it realistic to wait for this technology to be ready?
Should companies be taking the lead in finding other alternative solutions, until CCR becomes an accepted and proven solution? What does this mean for the hard-to-abate sectors? What is the role of policy in ensuring that businesses do not to rely on offsets, and instead invest in new energy projects, including hydrogen, offshore wind, and electric vehicle charging?
Moderated by:
Philippa Nuttall – Environment and Sustainability Editor at the New Statesman. She was previously Editor in Chief of Energy Monitor and FORESIGHT Climate and Energy. Philippa has been a journalist and communications expert in climate, energy and environmental issues for nearly 20 years. She has degrees from the University of Cambridge and the Sorbonne.
On the panel:
Rebekah Braswell – Founding member and CCO of Land Life Company. Day to day, she works with international corporations, local and national governments, nonprofits and foundations to develop large-scale, technology-driven reforestation projects that help mitigate climate change and restore vital ecosystems. Prior to joining Land Life Company, Rebekah was an associate partner with Monitor Group and worked on issues of economic development and food security across Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Rwanda and Ghana. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MA from Oxford University.
Sabine Frank – Executive Director, Carbon Market Watch. Sabine’s role is to ensure Carbon Market Watch adapts its purpose and activities to “the future as it emerges” and that Carbon Market Watch plays a uniquely useful role in the political battle for the climate and humanity. She is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the organisation. Before joining Carbon Market Watch, Sabine worked for several foundations, notably the Schöpflin Stiftung as Head of Programme “Economy and Democracy”, and also has many years of leadership experience of NGOs at European level. She has become a committed “Bruxelloise” and cares about life in the city of Brussels becoming sustainable.
Tariye Gbadegesin –Co-Chair, Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative Steering Committee. Tariye is the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment LTD. Tariye is a member of the Advisory Council of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Washington D.C., the Advisory Committee on Infrastructure for the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (PRI), and the Technical Working Group on Finance and Investment for the United Nations High Level Dialogue on Energy. Tariye was on the founding team to establish the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan African Development Finance Institution with US$6 billion under management where she led several of AFC’s investments in the sectors of power, transport, industrials, & telecommunications. Tariye previously led the US$800 million Industrial and Telecommunications Infrastructure business at AFC. Her global experience includes roles at the International Monetary Fund, the Boston Consulting Group, & Price Waterhouse Coopers. Tariye holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Amherst College, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Steve Oldham – CEO of Carbon Engineering, a carbon capture technology company. Steve brings more than 20 years of executive experience to Carbon Engineering’s team, stemming from previous roles in technology, robotics, and aerospace sectors. Steve served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Development for MDA, a leading Canadian technology firm. At MDA, Steve held a variety of senior executive positions across Canada and the US, covering General Management, Business Development, and Strategy. He has secured financing from Government and commercial sources for a variety of complex technologies, including several large satellite programs. Steve holds a bachelor of science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Birmingham in England.
Ariel Perez – Managing Partner, Vertree. With over a decade of experience trading, investing and managing risk in environmental markets, he is passionate about mobilizing the private sector to affect change while leveraging market-based mechanisms and nature to address the climate crisis. He joined Hartree in 2015 to set up and lead the Environmental Products business. Prior to this, he was a managing partner at Mercuria and global head of emissions trading for Citigroup in London. Ariel holds a BS in applied economics and management from Cornell University.