Explore the frontiers of climate innovation with Made of Air

The urgency of climate change is becoming ever more palpable, and the landscape of climate tech is evolving accordingly and rapidly. Our CEO and co-founder, Allison Dring, is lucky enough to be part of this dynamic community and meet some of the best minds working on solving the issues. Allison is also contributing to this fight, and shares the knowledge she gathers as the CEO of Made of Air. In “Climate check-in,” she shares insights, breakthroughs, and inspiring stories from the forefront of climate innovation.

You can easily watch the first Climate check-in video right below, but if you prefer to consume content in a written form, you can find a summary just under the embedded content. Either way, we hope you enjoy the most exciting climate topics of 2024!

The Carbon Removal Certification Framework is here

The most important news from the last quarter was that the European Union agreed on the Carbon Removal Certification Framework, or CRCF for short. The CRCF is a groundbreaking piece of legislation for anyone working in carbon removal since it aims to regulate the certification of carbon removal credits.

For Made of Air, one of the most important parts of this new framework is that it’s a tech-neutral approach to carbon removal, which includes biochar as well. Until now, it wasn’t clear how the EU would handle biochar, but based on the CRCF, they—rightly—consider it a valid carbon removal technology. By adopting a tech-neutral stance, the CRCF also promotes diverse decarbonization methods and fosters innovation in the field.

The Carbon Removal Certification Framework, or CRCF for short, includes biochar as a carbon removal technique

This framework signifies a significant step towards mainstreaming carbon removal efforts and aligning with global climate goals. It’s scheduled to take effect in 2025, and there are some uncertainties in the details, but as Allison puts it, “the first domino has fallen.”

The future of the Built Environment and the perfect place to meet changemakers

Recently, Allison had the opportunity to participate in The Tech Arena event in Stockholm. Allison is admittedly partial to Sweden and its capital city, since the country embodies a progressive approach to sustainability where big companies do the right thing and find new ways to be more sustainable through innovation.

During Allison’s time in Stockholm, one key theme that emerged was the concept of Scope 3 emissions in buildings. These emissions, stemming from the materials used in construction, represent a significant yet often overlooked aspect of carbon footprints. However, more and more companies see the buildings in their portfolio as products and they can apply supply chain logic to them. This gives them a chance to leverage high demand to create better materials.

Allison Dring at the Tech Arena stage talking about the future of the Built Environment - Photo: The Tech Arena

Allison also delivered a speech about the built environment at The Tech Arena. The built environment is one of the most important topics for Made of Air and climate in general. It holds immense potential to not only reduce carbon emissions but also act as a carbon sink with the sequestered carbon from the atmosphere. By harnessing innovative materials and design principles, we can create buildings that serve as net-zero or even carbon-negative assets, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Al Gore on climate change and CO2 emissions

Another highlight of Allison’s experience in Stockholm was listening to Al Gore. The former Vice President of the USA delivered a powerful speech on climate change. After decades of advocating for environmental action, his passion and optimism remain strong. The former Vice President is convinced that we can address climate change and meet our net-zero and 1.5-degree goals.

CO2 in the Mid-troposphere: Our problems are closer than you think

Gore also shared a poignant analogy about the proximity of greenhouse gases to our everyday lives. The Vice President said that if you were to drive straight up into the atmosphere, you would reach the mid-troposphere, where our greenhouse gases are, in five minutes. That’s only a 35-minute walk. This example served as a stark reminder of the tangible impact of our actions and, in some ways, reminded Allison why Made of Air is doing climate tech.

Going climate native: The future of business

The concept of a climate-native business model is also gaining traction as companies recognize that the planet has to be one of their main stakeholders. While such an approach may have elicited skepticism in the past, which Made of Air also had to face, the paradigm is shifting. Sustainability is no longer a mere afterthought but a necessity that drives innovation and competitiveness. Businesses that embrace climate-native principles not only mitigate risk but also unlock new opportunities for growth and resilience in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Sustainability is not just a nice to have anymore, it’s an opportunity on its own

At Made of Air, our business model is inherently tied to carbon removal, and it’s great to see that sustainability is becoming a business opportunity on its own.