As the world prepares for the United Nations’ COP26 climate change conference, we talk with Rick Wayman, the new CEO of the Foundation for Climate Restoration (F4CR). They are working to return atmospheric CO2 levels to pre-Industrial Era levels by 2050. Members of the F4CR team have been on the show many times to discuss carbon capture and sequestration, an approach to permanently removing excess atmospheric CO2 that stores carbon in the ground or uses it to make new products and materials, from vodka to concrete. Earth911’s Mitch Ratcliffe recently moderated a session about mining the sky for the F4CR’s annual Second Annual Climate Restoration Forum.
World leaders are meeting this week in Glasgow, Scotland, to set emissions goals to prevent catastrophic climate change. Rick explains that a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 is critical to preventing warming in excess of 1.5C, at which climate change could reach a devastating tipping point. Carbon capture and sequestration technology is evolving quickly and may represent an important tool in humanity’s response to rising CO2 levels. But first, we need to stop the rising emissions from rich and poor countries in an equitable way. That’s where COP26 comes into play, it is the world’s last chance to agree on the path to an equitable transition to renewable energy. To learn more about F4CR, visit foundationforclimaterestoration.org.
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