Cara Maesano of RMI: Can Heavy Industry Scale CDR?

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

May 29, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 69

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Episode description

Bonus content - wickedproblems.earth

As we talked about with folk from Carbon Technology Research Foundation and Robert Höglund last week, Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is going through some things. The Trump administration is slashing funding for Direct Air Capture (DAC) hubs, poster child CDR firm Climeworks is laying off 20% of staff and stands accused of overpromising an underdelivering on removals.

But in a week when a Swiss village was wiped off the map by a collapsing glacier, and the World Meteorological Organisation predicted we’re likely facing years of staying at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels - the existential threshold for small island states they demanded be included in the Paris Agreement - the need to find ways to take greenhouse gases out of the air (while electrifying and decarbonising) has not gone away.

Cara Maesano has one of the most comprehensive views of the state of CDR technologies as the head of CDR research at RMI. Recent reports she helped craft point out pragmatic opportunities for joined-up thinking by integrating carbon removals in industry and agriculture - and even using captured carbon in building materials.

In Conversation

01:30 Challenges in the Direct Air Capture Sector

07:54 Exploring Different Carbon Removal Technologies

12:06 Industrial Carbon Removal Opportunities

23:40 Industry Partnerships for Carbon Removal

24:03 Economic Benefits of Carbon Removal

25:41 Momentum in Climate Action

27:50 Innovative Building Materials for Carbon Storage

32:44 Engaging Stakeholders in Carbon Removal

33:28 Highlighting Successful Carbon Removal Projects

35:13 Challenges and Opportunities in Policy and Regulation

37:25 The Ongoing Climate Conversation

38:52 Connecting Climate Solutions Across Sectors

42:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts