Given the sheer size of its economy, and the ambitiousness of its climate commitments, California could play a pivotal role in development of carbon removal options. This webinar will focus on potential mechanisms to drive large-scale adoption of carbon dioxide removal in the state. The webinar will also focus on key constraints to carbon removal adoption in California, as well as how to ensure that potential deployment comports with critical environmental justice considerations. The respective speakers will draw upon recent reports and articles that they have published on these themes.

Panelists:

Ethan Elkind: Director of the Climate Program at CLEE and leads the Climate Change and Business Research Initiative on behalf of the UC Berkeley and UCLA Schools of Law. He taught at the UCLA law school’s Frank Wells Environmental Law Clinic and served as an environmental law research fellow. He has a background in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), climate change law, environmental justice, and other environmental law topics.

Sam Uden: Economist, policy analyst, and consultant with expertise in energy, natural resources, and climate change. Sam currently leads a long-term project focused on deploying carbon removal technologies in California. He designs and manages a strategic, policy-oriented research portfolio, and engage with public agencies, legislators, project developers, and environmental NGOs.

Maya Batres: Associate Director, Carbon Dioxide Removal at ClimateWorks Foundation. Prior to joining ClimateWorks, Maya led deep decarbonization analyses and policy efforts for The Nature Conservancy out of the DC and Sacramento offices. Over the last decade she’s worked on climate change and social justice, land use planning and infrastructure, was the recipient of an Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowship, and is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumni.

Moderators:

Wil Burns: Co-Director, Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy, American University

Bruce Riordan: Program Director for the Climate Readiness Institute at UC Berkeley