Cleaning our skies: Innovative solutions that are removing carbon from the air
December 7, 2023
12pm ET / 6pm CET
The world is currently in the greatest race of all time. In order to prevent the worst effects of climate change, we must reach net zero emissions by 2050. This requires drastically cutting emissions from sources like fossil fuels, forest destruction, and food production. But reductions alone are not enough. We must also remove existing pollution from the sky.
The reality is that certain emissions are impossible to abate by 2050. Take air travel, which must transition to sustainable aviation fuels and new propulsion technologies that are still under development. Even optimistic scenarios forecast that 30% of aviation emissions cannot be eliminated by 2050.
But future emissions are just part of the problem. The CO2 already in the air is also driving up temperatures. Even if we stopped emitting all carbon today, there’s a 42% chance the Earth would surpass 1.5°C of warming within a decade.
As the clock steadily ticks, climate scientists acknowledge that we cannot rely solely on emissions reductions. According to the IPCC, net zero targets can only be achieved if we also remove CO2 from the atmosphere. This includes deploying nature-based carbon removal approaches like reforestation as well as newer technologies like ocean alkalinity enhancement, soil carbon sequestration, and direct air capture.
This webinar in our Road to Net Zero series will explore some of the innovative solutions that are scrubbing CO2 from the air. Our CEO, Paloma Zapata, will chat with three experts about their carbon removal approaches. Kelly Erhart will talk about the special carbon-removing sand that Project Vesta is using to restore eroding coastlines. Patricia Loria of CarbonCapture Inc. will explain how their direct air capture machines filter CO2 out of the atmosphere. Jodi Formosi of Bella Biochar Corporation will explain how they are creating biochar from repurposed, landfill-diverted waste wood.
Join this webinar to gain a better understanding of carbon removal and discover how tourism can support it.
What you'll learn
The role of carbon removal in reaching net zero targets, including why we need to prioritize removal alongside reduction and whether these solutions are realistic and sustainable.
How carbon removal works, including real-life examples of different solutions that are capturing and storing carbon and the advantages of each.
How these technologies can guarantee they are removing the amount of carbon they say and how long the emissions removals last.
What obstacles are preventing the implementation of carbon removal technologies, and how tourism stakeholders can help them scale up without undermining emission cuts.
Can’t make the live event? Register anyways and we’ll send you the recording.
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Meet the experts

Speaker
Kelly Erhart
Co-Founder & President, Project Vesta
Kelly Erhart is a social entrepreneur passionate about the opportunities to address global challenges that are found at the intersection of science and business. She is co-founder and President of Vesta, where they are working on an ocean-based climate restoration solution. Kelly has a multidisciplinary background, and her work in the last few years has focused on the commercialization of sustainable technologies and carbon removal approaches. Alongside her commercial efforts, Kelly has also helped to found multiple non-profit efforts across the climate and sustainability space.

Speaker
Patricia Loria
Vice President of Business Development, CarbonCapture Inc,
Patricia Loria is VP of Business Development at CarbonCapture Inc, a CA based direct air capture company. She is responsible for sales, partnerships and policy development for the company. Prior to taking this role, Patricia was Senior Client Engagement Lead at the Global CCS Institute, where she supported companies and governments looking to deploy carbon capture solutions from point sources or ambient air to achieve net-zero goals. Based in Washington, DC, Patricia is a seasoned marketing and business development professional with more than 20 years of experience in financial services, insurance, and NGO sectors. Patricia received an MBA from Darden Business School and a master’s degree in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability.

Speaker
Jodi Formosi
CEO & Founder, Bella Biochar Corporation
Jodi began her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 18, while managing Ivor Wynn Stadium (now Tim Horton’s Field) and attending McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to pursue two baccalaureates and eventually a Master’s Degree. During that time, she began designing and manufacturing Canadian Football League Fan Wear, and became the first female to obtain a Canadian Football League Merchandising License.
Upon completion of Teacher’s College, and after securing a Teaching Position, Jodi worked to become a Licensed Realtor, specializing in Commercial Restaurant Chains and Redevelopment Projects. Here she began learning about the negative impact of chemicals and waste on the environment. After retiring from a successful 30 year career in Education, Jodi then committed to focusing her efforts on supporting the Earth. She gained extensive knowledge and experience pertaining to the interrelated negative impacts among landfills, soil infertility, and climate change. While advocating for a Canadian Waste Technology Group, Jodi began working as a Sustainable Waste Solution/Landfill Diversion Technology Consultant, which ultimately led to her current role as CEO/ Founder/Director of Bella Biochar Corporation.
Certified by the International Biochar Initiative for Biochar Environmental Sustainability and Economic Development, Jodi is pioneering both the Premium Quality Biochar and Carbon Dioxide Removal Global Markets as the only Canadian commercial scale, non-traditional pyrolysis manufacturer of Certified Organic Biochar made from landfill diverted waste wood. Jodi is proud to lead the first female founded corporation in the world to achieve PURO.earth (ICROA) Carbon Dioxide Removal Certification.

Moderator
Paloma Zapata
CEO, Sustainable Travel International
Paloma Zapata leads Sustainable Travel International’s global efforts to maximize tourism’s contribution to environmental conservation and community well-being. With over 15 years of experience in sustainable tourism, Paloma has implemented impactful initiatives in 26 nations across the globe. Paloma manages the organization’s efforts to engage the tourism industry in climate action through a suite of carbon measurement, offsetting, and educational solutions. She is also working alongside destination leaders and communities to define a Carbon Neutral Destination model.
Road to Net Zero
A webinar series catalyzing climate action in travel
It’s readily apparent that the world must take swift, ambitious action to reach net zero emissions. What’s less evident is how to get there. Our Road to Net Zero Webinar series offers stakeholders support on their journey to net zero travel. Each webinar takes a deep dive into a different aspect of climate action, demystifying confusing or controversial topics and highlighting real-life examples of climate action in practice.