Solving Climate, Naturally - Issue #1: The latest news on the oldest tech
How do you stop a tectonic shift?
Launching Solving Climate, Naturally
While we (Ida, Kate, and Julia) have always been climate wonks, something about the inward-facingness of the pandemic pushed our interests further outwards, out towards the forests and lands and coasts. We increasingly found ourselves asking: how do we use the tools of nature to solve the climate crisis? Nature-based solutions are some of the largest, most efficient, and the most proven carbon sinks on earth (see: millenia of track record). How do we take advantage of that? And, since we did meet in business school after all, how do we develop market-based solutions and unlock private capital for them?
An exciting new industry is emerging to do exactly that - to scale natural climate solutions, from protecting peatlands to restoring mangroves systems. But it’s the wild, wild west - a veritable alphabet soup of types of solutions, protocols, and marketplaces, not to mention the underlying complexity of climate science itself (some might say - it’s hard to see the forest through the trees!). And the landscape of players and solutions is evolving very much in real time.
We started this podcast and platform because we saw the need to expand conversations about nature-based solutions, particularly in the private sector. We hope to learn together, unpack this growing field, and connect the dots and people and ideas that are shaping its future. Thanks for coming along with us on our journey!
Our first three episodes - forests, a first look at carbon markets, and sizing the prize
We’re so excited to share our first three episodes, available on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Listen along as we speak with:
Episode 1: Max Nova, Co-founder and COO of NCX (formerly SilviaTerra), about how technology like satellite imaging and artificial intelligence can enable natural climate solutions like forestry and why the time value of carbon matters;
Episode 2: Frances Seymour, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute, on the importance of ending deforestation and the opportunities and challenges of REDD+ programs, particularly in emerging markets; and
Episode 3: Bronson Griscom, Senior Director of Natural Climate Solutions, on the opportunity of the whole portfolio of NCS to address the tectonic shift of climate change - Bronson’s research on NCS drove the landmark finding that NCS can contribute as much as 30% of the required emissions reductions to 2030 to remain on a 2C pathway
Look for more episode releases this month. We’re looking forward to spotlighting more international voices and delving into other solution areas like oceans and soil.
NCS in the News
Apple announces $200M Restore Fund focused on natural climate solutions, in collaboration with Conservation International.
In parallel, Conservation International announced the first verified blue carbon credits for mangroves afforestation.
The Growing Climate Solutions Act moves onto the Senate floor, and could be a significant catalyst for US farmers to access carbon markets that incentivize regenerative practices, soil carbon health and related solutions.
The World Economic Forum on how nature can help corporates meet their net zero commitments, and on the launch of new public-private efforts like the LEAF Coalition.
Mitsubishi and South Pole stand up a facility that aims to buy at least $800 million in carbon removal credits by 2030.
The State of Finance for Nature reports public and private financial flows into nature-based solutions.
Maybe Money Does Grow on Trees: NCS Dealflow
NCX (formerly SilviaTerra) closes $20M Series A, with Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund and others. The Wall Street Journal covered the story here.
Terraformation closes $30M Series A, led by Max & Sam Altman of Apollo Projects.
Pachama closes $15M Series A, with participation from Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Serena Ventures, and others.
Klim (also known as Carbon Farmed Solutions) closes seed round, with participation by Ananda Impact Ventures, Atlantic Food Labs, and others
ClimateCare and Natural Capital Partners merge to form a combined platform for voluntary carbon offsets.
Sylvera closed $5.8 million in seed funding with VC firm Index Ventures and others.
Stripe chooses Running Tide and The Future Forest Company, two natural climate solutions related companies, as part of their carbon removal portfolio.
Reach out
We’re early in this journey and we want to hear from you. Have burning questions, feedback, or just want to get in touch? Feel free to reach out to us at solvingclimatenaturally@gmail.com.
Kate, Julia, & Ida