Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal Panel

The Foundation for Climate Restoration is raising awareness and supporting advocacy for solutions that can restore a safe and healthy climate. Our Solution Series offers a diverse portfolio of natural and technological approaches that can remove CO2 from our atmosphere and return us to safe, preindustrial levels of carbon. This panel explores Ocean-Based Carbon Removal practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss its ability to achieve scalable, financeable, permanent, and equitable outcomes and then provide ways for readers to advocate for its safe and thoughtful implementation.

Panelists:

Brian Von Herzen Ph.D. is the founder and executive director of the Climate Foundation, which upholds the vision and the mission to regenerate life in the ocean using Marine Permaculture technology. As Executive Director, Brian leads Climate Foundation’s large-scale seaweed mariculture programs to develop sustainable food, feed and fertilizer value chains, provide ecosystem life support, and sustain blue carbon sinks. Brian graduated magna cum laude in three years from Princeton University with a degree in Physics. He holds a Ph.D. in planetary science from California Institute of Technology where he was awarded the prestigious Hertz Fellowship, and has been awarded numerous patents. After two decades developing system solutions for companies such as Intel, Disney, Pixar, Microsoft, HP, and Dolby, Brian launched the Climate Foundation in order to investigate groundbreaking nature-based solutions to the climate and other environmental challenges. Brian leads an international team of scientists, engineers, technicians, social scientists and seaweed farmers. Currently and most importantly, Brian is leading a successful Marine Permaculture seaforestation demonstration project in the Philippines

Courtney McGeachy currently serves as the Director of the Ocean Visions – UN Decade Collaborative Center for Ocean Climate Solutions. Courtney previously directed the GOLD+ Program (planetGOLD) at Conservation International. Prior to joining Conservation International, Courtney served as the Principal of the Pew Marine Fellows Program at the Pew Charitable Trusts, as well as the Manager of the Marine Conservation portfolio at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. During her time at the National Fish Wildlife Foundation, Courtney managed several marine conservation programs including the Fishing for Energy Program, Coral Reef Conservation Program, and the Emergency Prescott Grants Program just to name a few. Courtney holds a B.Sc. degree in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University, and a M.Sc. in Marine and Estuarine sciences from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Courtney also previously served as a co-chair for Integrity, Diversity and Equity at the Citizen Science Association.

Dr. Sara Nawaz is the Director of Research at American University’s Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy. She is an environmental social scientist who works on social dimensions of carbon removal. She studies how carbon removal technologies and policies might be designed in just, equitable and responsible ways, including how to involve societal groups (e.g., local groups, Indigenous communities, experts, the public) in these processes. She is also affiliated with the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society at the University of Oxford and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Wil Burns is Founding Co-Executive Director of the Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy at American University in Washington, DC, and a Visiting Professor in the Environmental Policy & Culture program at Northwestern University. Prior to this, he served as the founding Director of the Energy Policy & Climate program at Johns Hopkins University. He has also taught at the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and the University of California-Berkeley. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Policy for the state of Wisconsin and worked in the environmental non-profit sector for more than twenty years. He also served as the Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Section of the American Branch of the International Law Association, and as President of the Association of Environmental Studies & Sciences. He was the 2019 recipient of the organizations Lifetime Achievement Award for Scholarship and Service in the field. His research agenda includes: climate geoengineering, climate loss and damage, and the effectiveness of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. He received his Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Wales-Cardiff School of Law and is the author of more than 85 publications.

Moderator:

Dr. Erica Dodds holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Evaluation and an M.A. in International Development Administration. Erica’s lifelong interest in poverty reduction led her to study abroad in West Africa, intern with an NGO in rural India, and work for the Evaluation Office of the International Labour Organization in Geneva. She is committed to seeing climate action work for today’s youth in addition to future generations, and she believes that the key is setting a goal of restoring a safe and healthy climate.

The panel will take place following the release of a white paper, blog post, and explainer video.

Date and time:
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PST

Location
Online event

This is the fifth installment of the Foundation’s Solution Series, which examines a diverse portfolio of natural and technological approaches that can remove CO2 from our atmosphere and return us to safe, preindustrial levels of carbon. In this animated explainer video, we explore Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss Ocean-Based CDR Practices capacity to achieve scalable, financeable, durable, and equitable outcomes.

Release Date: February 21, 2023

This is the fourth installment of the Foundation’s Solution Series, which examines a diverse portfolio of natural and technological approaches that can remove CO2 from our atmosphere and return us to safe, preindustrial levels of carbon. In this blog, we explore Coastal Blue Carbon Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss Coastal Blue Carbon Practices’ capacity to achieve scalable, financeable, durable, and equitable outcomes. In his blog post, Kassim Juma examines the importance of mangrove restoration for carbon capture, the role of mangroves in local communities, and the work being done at the Mikoko Pamoja project in Gazi Bay, Kenya.

In this blog post, guest author Safidy Ramarolahy discusses the restoration and development work underway in communities across Southern Madagascar. The training programs in these communities have fostered widespread commitment to ecosystem restoration, as well as providing resources for leaders to continue developing sustainable practices and solutions for the local environment and community.

This panel explores Coastal Blue Carbon Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss how Coastal Blue Carbon Practices can achieve scalable, financeable, permanent, and equitable outcomes and then provide ways for viewers to advocate for their safe and thoughtful implementation.

Panelists:

  • Kevin Whilden, Co-Founder, SeaTrees and Sustainable Surf
  • Flavia Neves Maia, Founder and CEO, Filha Do Sol

Moderator:

  • Garrett Boudinot, CEO, Vycarb

Date and time:
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT

Location
Online event

This is the fourth installment of the Foundation’s Solution Series, which examines a diverse portfolio of natural and technological approaches that can remove CO2 from our atmosphere and return us to safe, preindustrial levels of carbon. In this animated explainer video, we explore Coastal Blue Carbon Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss Coastal Blue Carbon Practices capacity to achieve scalable, financeable, durable, and equitable outcomes.

This is the fourth installment of the Foundation’s Solution Series, which examines a diverse portfolio of natural and technological approaches that can remove CO2 from our atmosphere and return us to safe, preindustrial levels of carbon. In this blog, we explore Coastal Blue Carbon Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss Coastal Blue Carbon Practices’ capacity to achieve scalable, financeable, durable, and equitable outcomes.

This is the fourth installment of the Foundation’s Solution Series, which examines a diverse portfolio of natural and technological approaches that can remove CO2 from our atmosphere and return us to safe, preindustrial levels of carbon. In this paper, we explore Coastal Blue Carbon Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss Coastal Blue Carbon Practices’ capacity to achieve scalable, financeable, durable, and equitable outcomes and then provide ways for readers to advocate for its safe and thoughtful implementation.

Release date: October 4, 2022.

This panel explores Soil Carbon Practices through a climate restoration lens. We discuss how soil carbon practices and regenerative agriculture can achieve scalable, financeable, permanent, and equitable outcomes and then provide ways for viewers to advocate for their safe and thoughtful implementation.

Panelists:

Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director at the Regenerative Organic Alliance

Regenerating the living crust of the Earth has been Elizabeth Whitlow’s mission since she was first exposed in the 1990s to the harmful practices of industrial agriculture and the power of building thriving food systems. Thus, began the long journey of examining the deeper systemic policies of agriculture and advocating for programs that reward holistic farmers. Now, as the Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, Elizabeth is overseeing the revolutionary certification program, Regenerative Organic Certified™. The term “regenerative” risks becoming the next buzzword as it is adopted by large chemical ag. Elizabeth is leading the charge to ensure that regenerative is intrinsically linked to organic. Regenerative organic agriculture is farming in a way that heals our precious topsoil, draws carbon down, creates thriving ecosystems and equity for those who live and depend on Earth. Above all, her greatest honor is to serve a planet that is in tremendous need of each and every one of us. “In the 37 seconds it may have taken to read this brief bio, the Earth has lost the equivalent of 18 soccer fields of living topsoil. The solutions to our modern-day ecological crises lies right beneath our feet.”

Darya Watnick, Postgraduate Research Associate at the Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program

Darya Watnick is currently a Postgraduate Research Associate for the Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program where she is addressing quantitative research needs for soil carbon measurement and verification on U.S. croplands. She received her Master of Environmental Management degree with a focus in agriculture & food systems from the Yale School of the Environment. While at Yale, Darya co-developed the Soil Health Policy: Developing Community-Driven State Soil Health Policy and Programs guidebook as part of the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative for the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale. She also chaired the 2021 Yale Food Systems Symposium and coordinated the Ecosystem Management & Conservation specialization and learning community. Prior to graduate school, Darya spent three years living and working in Israel. Most recently, she was the Director of Jewish Engagement at the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington DC, where she had a fellowship in Jewish Outdoor, Food/Farming, and Environmental Education (JOFEE), working to integrate Jewish traditions and rituals with environmental and outdoor education. Darya graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Religious Studies.

Moderator: Eric Cárdenas, Chief Executive Officer of LOACOM

Eric Cárdenas is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of LOACOM Social Purpose Corporation, a certified B Corp that works with mission aligned partners to build a better world through strategic marketing and communication efforts. He is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara with degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Johnson Ohana Foundation and the Fund for Santa Barbara. Eric’s areas of interest include food and agriculture, philanthropy for social change, campaigns/movement-building, and strategic planning and facilitation. He is currently most passionate about addressing the climate crisis through an intersectional approach that leverages business resources, racial justice, philanthropy, strategic communications, and community organizing. Some of Eric’s previous work and volunteer experience include time with the Ag Innovations Network, Orfalea Foundations, Environmental Defense Center, and Roots of Change, among others.

Date and time:
Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT

Location
Online event