July 14, 2023

Earlier this month, the State Senate passed Senator Dave Cortese’s SR-34, marking the state’s first Resolution to formally recognize humanity’s duty to future generations to restore a safe climate for long-term human survival. The landmark Resolution emphasizes the importance of climate restoration and calls upon the U.S. to propose an international climate treaty to restore and stabilize greenhouse gas levels.

“Tackling the climate crisis requires a collective global effort, but it all begins with individuals uniting in their communities and taking incremental steps for a cleaner environment. These local collaborations link together across regions and countries and grow into a powerful worldwide movement to mitigate climate change,” said Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose). “SR-34 calls on the state and nation to recognize climate restoration as an essential tool in our pursuit of global environmental justice and climate change resilience.

“While everyone really wants our grandchildren to have a safe climate, this resolution is the first time that a government has made that commitment explicitly. It wasn’t needed 30 years ago, but it is now. I hope that the US, other nations and the UN follow suit before this year’s UN climate conference in Dubai,” said Peter Fiekowsky, physicist, entrepreneur, and Founder of the Foundation for Climate Restoration.

“Climate restoration” means restoring CO2 concentrations back to safe levels that have historically supported human survival. To achieve this, about one trillion tons of old CO2 must be removed from the atmosphere. Restoration can be achieved by imitating natural processes that remove CO2. Examples include boosting the creation of limestone and the growth of underwater plants that encourage photosynthesis, which cools the earth. These methods are relatively affordable and have the potential to remove all the world’s “legacy CO2,” or human-caused CO2 that has accumulated over time, by 2050.

Senator Cortese has dedicated his career to driving progress on local and global climate policy, as well as equipping younger generations with the knowledge and tools to address the defining issue of their lives. In August 2019, Senator Cortese, then a Santa Clara County Supervisor, spearheaded the Climate Restoration Emergency Resolution, a first-of-its-kind document that urged immediate mobilization of resources at all levels, from local to international, to address the climate emergency. To raise awareness about the Resolution on a global stage, Senator Cortese was the only elected official to address the first annual Climate Restoration Forum held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in 2019.

Senator Cortese also led the County Climate Coalition in partnership with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, reaffirming Santa Clara County’s commitment to meet emission reduction deadlines outlined in the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement. He also created the “Silicon Valley Kids Climate Club,” a series of lessons and resources designed to teach climate change, developed with the assistance of climate science experts.

Carbon Herald

Violet George

5-25-2023

Last week, the state of Washington passed its capital budget, part of which is funding for carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

In addition to providing funding opportunities specifically for carbon dioxide removal, this also marks the first time any US state has approved investment in technologies to actively remove the full range of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere — including methane and nitrous oxide.re.

The $12 million funding will be made available as grants that representatives of business, academia and non-profit organizations will have the opportunity to apply for in order to support their research, development, and demonstration projects.

By Nick Faber, Intern, Foundation for Climate Restoration

Over the past 8 months, I’ve had the opportunity and the pleasure to volunteer with the Foundation for Climate Restoration, learning about the incredible work the Foundation is doing to further climate restoration among communities around the world. I’ve had an extremely fulfilling experience knowing that the work that I’m doing is leaving a lasting (and positive) impact on climate activism.

This internship experience has raised a question for me: Why aren’t more of my peers volunteering? This blog will serve to highlight the benefits of volunteering and even working for nonprofits and why—despite our busy schedules—young folks should be giving more of our time to helping nonprofits. In this blog, I’ll be addressing fellow Gen Zers in hopes of inspiring others to fight the good fight by volunteering!

Firstly, why volunteer for nonprofits?

Volunteering can provide a range of benefits for you, your professional future, and your community. By volunteering for a nonprofit, you can contribute to a cause you care about, help make a difference in the lives of others, and gain valuable experience and skills. Depending on the type of volunteer work you’re interested in, you can develop your skills in fundraising, research, and many other areas.

Both the skills you develop through your volunteer work and the time you devote to an organization can also make you more attractive to prospective employers. Hiring managers like to see that candidates are good at managing their time, which is demonstrated when you volunteer while in school or working, and that they have a strong moral compass. Your time as a volunteer will also expand your network, giving you more people who can serve as professional references in the future. Putting your volunteer experience on your resumé can help you stand out from other applicants.

The expertise you already possess can also make a huge contribution to organizations, since, “young volunteers often bring a fresh perspective, passion, and energy to [nonprofit] organizations. They tend to be more technologically savvy and more open to new ideas, meaning they can help drive positive change and create new opportunities for improvement.”

Volunteering for nonprofits that work in sustainability specifically is crucial in addressing the pressing environmental issues that humanity faces today and will continue to deal with in the future. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are all threats to our planet and we need all hands on deck to address these challenges—especially those of us who are younger and whose futures are at stake. By volunteering for a sustainability nonprofit like F4CR, we can make a difference in our local communities while also contributing to a global effort to address environmental issues.

Regardless of the mission of the nonprofit, the work will be fulfilling as you’re working on something larger than yourself while furthering your personal and professional goals.

Now that you’re convinced, how do you get involved?

Getting involved with a nonprofit is easy, and there are many ways to contribute. Start by researching nonprofits in your area and that are working on causes you care about. The next step is simple but maybe the most nerve wracking: reach out to the nonprofit to learn how to get involved! Most nonprofits have contact forms or signup forms on their websites for people who want to volunteer.

Your work can take on a variety of forms, from organizing events and fundraisers to assisting with outreach. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to develop skills that you might be interested in—like sales, marketing, events management, etc.—as your personal preferences or interests might influence where you land. But this freedom to choose how you contribute may also come with time and experience, so I encourage you to be open to all kinds of assignments in the beginning.

Volunteering is a great way for young folks to make a difference in their communities and the world. By volunteering, you can gain valuable experience, meet like-minded people, and contribute to important causes that impact the lives of others. If you’re a young person looking to make a positive impact, consider volunteering for a nonprofit.

I have had an incredible experience and I hope you can too! See you out there!

By Terri Lyne Pugh & Kate White Tudor

F4CR’s local chapters have always accomplished amazing things, but we are ecstatic about a recent victory from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) chapter.

PNW leader Mike Robinson recognized that the entire west coast is ready to grow the clean green economy. We just need to nurture (fund) researchers and businesses at this early stage when private investors are still learning about the industry’s potential to grow as big and fast as the internet. The PNW chapter, together with the rest of the west coast chapters, formed a team called PacClean to get funding for fledgling Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) businesses so they have the chance to move down the cost curve and make a meaningful contribution to climate restoration.

Mike and Chris Neidl, co-founder of OpenAir Collective, brought F4CR and OpenAir together to approach the Washington State Legislature with a proposal to fund grants for greenhouse gas removal through the Washington State budget.

Our team met half a dozen key legislators at a rapid clip. Most of the elected officials engaged with interest, understanding how putting a little money in the budget might make it easier to unlock federal funds and signal that Washington state could be a front runner for hosting this burgeoning industry.

On Monday March 27, the House Capital budget came out, and we were ecstatic! The budget writers heard us loud and clear. They included greenhouse gas removal as an activity eligible for $20 million in grant funds, offered through the Department of Commerce’s research and development program for clean energy. Check out page 22 of the Washington state budget and look for “greenhouse gas removal;” this is what victory looks like!

Mike, Jason, and Terri testified on the capital budget to thank the amazing legislators who made this happen and to ask them to preserve this funding in their final negotiated budget.

This funding still has to go through negotiations to stay in the final capital budget and receive the governor’s signature. We hope to know for sure about this funding opportunity by the end of May. Folks who want to apply for funds should be able to submit applications starting in July of this year. We are delighted to share a glimpse of what successes our members can claim at the Foundation for Climate Restoration.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to co-author Kate White Tudor, an advocate with over a decade of experience working in Olympia. Thanks to Jason Grillo of Air Miners, Matt Battles, Daphne Wysham, and Mike Robinson, who worked with Kate to strategize about our ask and plan meetings with key legislators in Washington. We also want to acknowledge the work of this amazing Washington team.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest report this week. The Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) integrates key findings based on three Working Groups and three Special Reports. It confirmed what we all know: that human activities, through greenhouse gas emissions, have caused global warming and these emissions are continuing to rise.

Where are these emissions coming from? Mainly from the wealthiest households in the wealthiest countries.

According to the report, “The 10% of households with the highest per capita emissions contribute 34-45% of global consumption-based household GHG emissions, while the bottom 50% contribute 13-15%.” The least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) also have much lower per capita emissions. Despite this, many of the communities facing the most extreme climate-related events are concentrated in Africa, Asia, Central, and South America, LDCs, SIDS, the Arctic, and among Indigenous Peoples, small-scale food producers, and low-income households.

What does the report say about climate restoration? Well…nothing directly.

Predictably, the report focuses on achieving net zero emissions, rather than the deeply net negative emissions that would be necessary to restore the climate. Reaching zero total emissions is highly improbable, so the report states that reaching net zero GHG emissions will involve deeply reducing emissions of CO₂, methane, and other GHGs in addition to employing negative emission solutions. This means that CDR will be necessary. In fact, most pathways modeled by the IPCC involve achieving net negative CO₂ emissions at least briefly through CDR and reduced CO₂ emissions to reduce overshooting 1.5°C warming.

Additionally, hard-to-abate residual GHG emissions (e.g., from agriculture, aviation, shipping, and other industrial processes) would need to be counterbalanced by CDR to achieve net zero GHG emissions.

Biological CDR methods (e.g., reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, coastal blue carbon) can enhance biodiversity, ecosystem functions, employment, and local livelihoods. However, methods such as afforestation and the production of biomass crops can have adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts, particularly if implemented on large scales and where there is insecure land tenure.

Can CDR replace emissions reductions? Of course not!

We’ve said it before and the IPCC has said it again: CDR must not and cannot replace emissions reductions, but should rather act as a counterpart. The report emphasizes that the less we decarbonize, the more we will need to rely on the deployment of CDR, creating greater feasibility and sustainability concerns. Warming that exceeds 1.5°C would “require additional deployment of carbon dioxide removal” when compared with pathways without overshoot. However, overshoot will also result in irreversible adverse impacts on ecosystems and communities. Reducing emissions would limit peak warming levels, reducing the need for greater levels of CDR. This would, in turn, reduce feasibility and sustainability concerns.

Equity and justice should take center stage in our climate action.

The report emphasizes the importance of prioritizing equity, climate justice, social justice, inclusion, and just transition processes. Action that prioritizes equity and inclusion leads to more sustainable outcomes while supporting transformative change. These findings underscore the need to continue work for climate restoration with an emphasis on equity and justice.

“Policy support is influenced by actors in civil society, including businesses, youth, women, labour, media, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities”

As a civil society organization working to create the ecosystem needed to equitably deploy CDR at scale through public engagement, particularly with youth and local communities, F4CR and our partners are well-positioned to ensure meaningful climate action. Furthermore, effective multilevel governance is “enabled by inclusive decision processes that prioritize equity and justice,” validating our continued commitment to putting equity and justice at the forefront of our work.

Here at F4CR, we’ve been working on an exciting project for the last year. Maybe you’ve heard the news—we’re creating a science-based, standards-aligned climate restoration high school curriculum for students around the world. For free. You heard that right! Young people deserve to feel empowered in learning about the ways they can get involved and take action in restoring the climate.

What’s unique about this curriculum

The easy-to-navigate online curriculum features six units covering everything from the science of the carbon cycle to the politics of climate action, climate restoration solutions, and the social justice implications of both climate change and solutions. With hands-on activities, interactive games, and helpful graphics, we designed the course to be as fun and engaging as it is educational.

Our goal is to create a cutting-edge, world class educational resource that supports and empowers young leaders to restore the climate, while also keeping it fun. With input from kids, educators, and parents alike, we made sure it was student and teacher approved. By promoting the curriculum with our extensive, global volunteer network, organizational partners, informal educational institutions, and teachers’ associations, we expect to reach 250,000 people in 15 countries within the first year!

But we need your help to complete the curriculum and distribute it all over the world.

How you can help

Last month, we launched a GoFundMe to raise the $150,000 needed for us to finish developing and publicizing this vital curriculum. Your donation will go directly towards creating climate content and publicizing the materials for schools.

By donating now, you are helping to create something incredible. As we continue to grow our curriculum, we will change lives. The possibilities are endless. Please join us on this exciting journey!

At F4CR, we’re often asked, “What are the solutions that can restore the climate?” In the coming months, we will attempt to answer this question (and more!) as they relate to nine categories of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions. In this fifth installment of our Solution Series, we examine the potential of ocean based climate restoration practices to contribute to climate restoration. Our new ocean based CDR white paper looks in greater detail at this solution’s climate restoration potential in terms of durability, financeability, scalability, and equity. This blog post gives a brief overview of some key points.

What is ocean based CDR?

Ocean based CDR solutions seek to increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO₂, accelerate that absorption, and ensure that the captured CO₂is stored long-term, all while avoiding unintended negative impacts and addressing relevant equity and governance implications. Terrestrial CDR approaches are limited by the quantity of arable land available for carbon removal and storage, so climate scientists and innovators see our oceans as a valuable tool for addressing the climate crisis.

Can ocean based CDR practices restore the climate?

Ocean-based CDR approaches are still novel, and most require more research to understand how to maximize their benefits while minimizing risks. However, given that 30% of anthropogenic emissions have already been absorbed by our oceans, it’s clear that the ocean’s capacity to absorb massive amounts of CO₂ is enormous. The questions that remain are:

How much more CO₂ our oceans can safely absorb,
How to facilitate that absorption safely, effectively, and equitably,
Which pathways are best suited to climate restoration-scale CDR.

Oceans have three main mechanisms by which they dissolve and store CO₂, and there are several approaches to enhancing or accelerating each mechanism.

The solubility pump moves atmospheric CO₂ into the deep ocean as surface water cools. The two main approaches to enhancing oceanic CO₂ uptake through the solubility pump are alkalinization and electrochemical ocean capture. Both of these methods allow ocean waters to take up more CO₂ without increasing acidity.
The biological pump converts carbon dioxide into biocarbon and sinks some of that biocarbon into the deep ocean using photosynthesis. Both macroalgal cultivation and carbon sequestration, as well as ocean nutrient fertilization seek to increase ocean primary productivity through the biological pump.
Lastly, physical transport mimics ocean currents, which transport CO₂ throughout the oceans and allow large quantities to be stored for decades to centuries. Artificial upwelling and artificial downwelling are two ways in which physical transport could increase ocean carbon sequestration, but further research on these two methods are necessary to determine whether they are effective CDR strategies.

Durability

Estimates for the durability of ocean based CDR vary by solution, and uncertainties still remain about the longevity of carbon storage. Depending on a variety of variables, carbon can be stored for as little as 10 or as many as 10,000+ years through ocean-based solutions.

Scalability

Ocean based CDR involves a variety of different approaches that enhance oceanic CO₂ absorption with varying levels of scalability. Some approaches, like electrochemical ocean capture, could in theory only be limited by the supply of dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater, which is functionally limitless (but has many practical limitations). Macroalgal cultivation and carbon sequestration are limited by the fact that seaweed farms must be millions of hectares in size to have a climatically relevant impact. Other means, such as artificial upwelling, artificial downwelling, and ocean nutrient fertilization require further research to better understand their scalability. Ocean based CDR is a very promising solution in terms of scalability, and further research and funding is necessary to better understand how to maximize these solutions’ scales.

Financeability

Looking at the financeability of ocean based CDR, ocean nutrient fertilization is the most cost effective ocean based CDR approach, costing less than $25-50 per tons of CO₂. However, if profit is the primary incentive, developers are more likely to support the cheapest solution that could accrue fewer benefits – or even burden – an impacted community. Other approaches involve new technology and are more financially demanding, such as electrochemical ocean capture. Although electrochemical ocean capture currently costs anywhere from $150-$2,500 per ton of CO₂, this cost could be reduced to less than $100 per ton of CO₂ with further R&D.

Equity

As with any CDR method, the social implications of ocean based CDR will be influenced by the particulars of deployment and policy. Although none of these approaches are inherently inequitable, equity concerns will emerge with the deployment processes, policies, and actors’ motivations. Historically, the distribution of ocean benefits has been inequitable, and these inequities are mirrored in the modern day. In order to avoid exacerbating existing inequities in the deployment of ocean based CDR, we must understand stakeholders varying needs and concerns while addressing the impacts of existing power dynamics. We must also push leaders to commit to inclusive and robust governance and long-term planning.

Interested in learning more about ocean based CDR practices? Download our Ocean Based CDR White Paper and register for our ocean based CDR expert panel on February 28th at 1 pm Pacific.

With the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl matchup at the top of every sports report in the United States, it’s easy to forget about other NFL teams, especially the Houston Texans. Their third straight lackluster season in a row saw them lose more games than almost any other team. With the Texans’ few victories overshadowed by a multitude of defeats, it’s easy to understand why otherwise loyal fans might act as if they no longer care.

It’s similar to what we see happening with our climate. Everywhere you turn, there’s bad news about climate change, and there’s only so much negativity you can take. New technological breakthroughs and forward-looking environmental policies provide glimmers of hope that the climate crisis can be turned around. Then, the global equivalent of a game-ending pick-six happens: intergovernmental talks fail, or we learn that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise year after year. We respond with frustration, apathy, anger, and anxiety. Out of self-preservation, we act as if we no longer care.

News about the NFL’s connection to climate change is rare. After all, what role does professional football have in addressing catastrophic climate change?

In an early contender for 2023’s most interesting collaboration, the Houston Texans have joined forces with 1PointFive, which is now the team’s “preferred carbon removal partner.” The Texans have agreed to buy Direct Air Capture carbon offsets from the subsidiary of Houston-based Occidental Petroleum to cover three years of flights to away games.

What exactly does this mean?

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a method of removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. It specifically removes carbon that has already been emitted and is contributing to climate chaos around the world. Once the CO₂is removed, it is stored in stable geological formations for centuries or longer.

Right now, DAC is expensive and relatively inefficient, just as most technologies are in their infancy. By making this early stage investment, the Texans are not simply trying to find a quick way to prove their green credentials; they’re acting as seed investors for a concept that can contribute to returning atmospheric levels of greenhouse gasses back to pre-industrial levels – aka restoring the climate.

DAC is just one of many solutions that have the potential to play a part in climate restoration. Some, like DAC, are engineering- or technology-based. Others, such as reforestation, regenerative agriculture, and cultivating kelp and other ocean macroalgae are nature-based. Deployed at scale safely, intentionally, and responsibly, these solutions together could do in decades what Mother Nature does over tens of thousands of years.

Restoring the climate is no small task. There are over 1 trillion tons of excess carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gasses blanketing our atmosphere. In addition to removing excess CO₂, the global energy transition must be completed swiftly so that we stop adding more literal fuel to this fire.

Carbon dioxide removal (taking historical carbon emissions out of the ambient air) is occasionally confused with carbon capture and storage, which filters CO₂ emissions at an industrial point source, such as a smokestack. Carbon dioxide removal is also sometimes criticized as an excuse for fossil fuel companies to continue with business as usual while doing nothing more than offsetting some of their future emissions. In isolated incidents, there is some veracity to this criticism, but in climate restoration, there is no room for maintaining the carbon status quo. The ambition is not to simply achieve net zero or keep the world to 1.5°C of warming, but to bring CO₂ concentrations back to pre-industrial levels of less than 300 parts per million by 2050.

The game clock is ticking, and we can’t afford to punt. All of us have to go for it together on fourth down. Companies, especially those that have profited from the use of fossil fuels, have a responsibility to get involved in restoring the climate. So do our elected officials, who have the power to put into place policies that enable climate restoration solutions to flourish.

What can one person do to ensure a future in which all humans can thrive? Actions like planting trees or observing Meatless Monday are helpful on an individual level. You can augment this impact by joining with like minded friends to demand that your state and federal elected officials, companies you buy products from, and — as we just found out — professional sports teams you support all take meaningful action to restore the climate.

We know for sure that the Texans won’t be lifting the Lombardi Trophy on February 12th. But by becoming an early adopter of carbon dioxide removal, they’ll be taking home the ‘W’ for the climate we all share.

Rick Wayman is President & CEO of the Foundation for Climate Restoration (f4cr.org).

Do you ever finish your workday wishing that there were more hours in the day…not just because you have more that you want to get done, but because you’re so excited about what you’re working on that you don’t want to stop?

Do you ever wake up full of energy, enthusiastic to get back to your work?

We here at F4CR are bursting with anticipation for everything we have coming up in 2023. We don’t want to spoil all of the headlines, but here’s a sneak preview:

We’re publishing a new climate restoration curriculum for high school students.

After the popularity of our Kids’ Digital Lesson — among kids and adults alike — we decided to produce a self-guided digital course for high school students. This project has grown from a single course into a six-course curriculum; it has gone from an exclusive focus on environmental science to incorporating politics, social studies, history, and engineering; and it has expanded to suit a global, rather than solely US-based, audience.

We are really proud of this curriculum and want to see it used far and wide. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you can sign up for the course once it goes live. If you work with high school students, or if you are one, let us know! We’d love your feedback as we finalize our materials.

We’re releasing the final four solutions of our Solution Series.

We launched our popular Solution Series in April of 2022 during Earth Week. We had been hard at work on it for months beforehand, and we never could have imagined how many people would read our white papers, watch our videos, or attend our expert panel webinars. In December we celebrated the midpoint of the Series with a recap of what we’ve learned so far. Now, it’s time to finish out the second half of the Series! In a few short months, we’ll be gearing up to summarize what we’ve learned about CDR solutions and which ones show the most promise for restoring our climate.

Our local chapters are expanding in scale and scope.

As of the end of 2022, we have 43 local chapters with over 500 members in 19 countries around the world. Our incredible chapter members held 44 meetings with elected officials and got 5 of them to cosponsor the federal Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act, H.R.7434.

But we’re not done yet! In 2023 we aim to launch an additional 20 chapters worldwide. Have you joined your local chapter yet? Is there not yet a chapter near you? Join us! Our success depends on your participation.

The Youth Leaders for Climate Restoration program is re-launching with shiny new content.

Already, our Youth Leaders for Climate Restoration (YL4CR) program has touched young people in over 50 countries. The global nature of the program is an incredible asset to the climate restoration movement, but it presents unique challenges as well. In 2023, we’re pausing to redesign the program in a way that is better suited to our participants, 90% of whom come from low-income countries. We will be adding structure to the program that enables everyone, including those with poor internet access, to participate fully and network with one another. Applications will open in the summer, so stay tuned!

Remember, this is just a sneak preview — there’s more beyond these four highlights. As you might imagine, we can’t wait to show you everything we’re working on. While you wait for us to reach our next program milestones, ask yourself: How long has it been since I donated to F4CR? None of this work is free to create, although it is all free to access. Your financial support, along with your participation in our programs and events, is critical to our success. Thank you!

Senate Passes Senator Cortese’s Resolution Making Climate Restoration A Top Policy Priority