Navigating the Green Frontier: Katja Grothe-Eberhardt’s Blueprint for a Sustainable Tomorrow

In the rapidly evolving world of sustainability, few industries are as crucial as carbon removal. In our recent Bright Founders Talk at Temy, we sat down with Katja Grothe-Eberhardt, Co-Founder and CEO of Klimate.co, a pioneering firm in this critical sector.

Fresh off the announcement of a successful €3.5 million seed round, Grothe-Eberhardt spoke candidly about Klimate.co’s mission to spearhead the carbon removal industry and bridge the gap between current capabilities and future commitments. From nature-based solutions like forests to engineered solutions like direct air capture, Klimate.co stands at the forefront of combating climate change.

Beyond the technicalities, Grothe-Eberhardt’s journey—from consulting and shipping to motherhood—provides an inspiring backdrop for her relentless drive. Join us as we dive deep into the world of carbon removal and the trailblazing efforts of Klimate.co.

Headline: Rising Star in Carbon Removal: How Katja Grothe-Eberhardt is Making Waves with Klimate.co

It’s not every day you encounter a dynamic personality like Katja Grothe-Eberhardt, the force behind Klimate.co. Despite her untraditional entry into the world of carbon removal, her passion and conviction shine through. Drawing from her diverse background in consulting, shipping, and even a stint in a blockchain venture, her journey began with her professional endeavors, but took a deep personal turn with the birth of her first child. “The time when he hit three months… it was one of the warmest winters we’ve ever had. It led me to discover how do we actually restore the balance of the atmosphere?” she reflects.

How do we restore the balance of the atmosphere? How do we fix the damage already done?

Klimate.co, founded at the dawn of 2020, ambitiously aims to skip the carbon removal industry forward. They’ve meticulously categorized carbon removal technologies into three types – nature-based, hybrid, and engineered. But it’s not just about knowing these solutions; Klimate.co is actively bridging the gap between what companies promise for the future and what they’re actually doing today. Katja describes their work as the last step in the journey of measure, reduce, and remove. The goal? High-quality and lasting carbon removal solutions.

The cherry on top of Klimate.co’s budding journey was the recent closure of a €3.5 million seed round. This massive achievement not only serves as a testament to their invaluable contribution to the market but also paves the way for expansion in international territories, including the UK and US. “Now we’re gonna have even more capacity to further expand our commercial efforts,” Katja exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable. It’s clear that with leaders like Katja at the helm, the future of carbon removal looks a whole lot brighter.

Katja’s Vision: Pioneering a New Era in Sustainability and Carbon Removal

At the core of her endeavor, Katja believes that anyone entering the realm of sustainability, particularly in carbon removal, must have both a fervent passion for the cause and an unwavering commitment to making it a success. She points out an intriguing aspect that many often overlook. Most professionals in this arena have their personal stories tethered to the cause. “You need to have an equal desire to build a successful company, but equally also desire to drive forward the agenda you believe in,” she shares.

You need to have an equal desire to build a successful company, but equally also desire to drive forward the agenda you believe in

Reflecting on her journey, Katja admits there’s an intricate dance of destiny and determination in building her dream team. After conveying her vision of what the climate could look like in the future, her first co-founder, with a track record in scaling up and entrepreneurship, chose to join her. Their collective belief and drive naturally led them to their third co-founder, Simon Baya, with his invaluable expertise in the area. She quipped, “Finding the right people can be hard, but when you’re driven by a cause, there’s an immense desire to make things happen.”

The road to reshaping and understanding carbon markets hasn’t been without its hurdles. In its infancy, the concept faced skepticism, largely due to its departure from legacy carbon markets, which had a murkier framework. However, with perseverance and constant education, there’s a burgeoning recognition of the pivotal role of carbon removal in global climate commitments. Katja, with an optimistic sparkle in her eyes, comments, “Even if we look at the most ambitious reduction scenarios, we’re still going to need to remove 10 Giga tons of CO2 by 2050.” The message is clear: the future of carbon removal is not just necessary—it’s inevitable.

Katja: Global Reach, Carbon Capture, and the Path Forward

Katja, with a blend of passion and pragmatism, describes a rapidly evolving global landscape. From macro-level shifts to country-specific drives, the stage is set for a substantial change in how we deal with carbon removal. The Energy Department’s public commitment to carbon removal paints the U.S. as a potential front-runner in this domain. Yet, for companies like hers, it’s not just about keeping pace, but ensuring they’re positioned right at the forefront. She muses, “With things like the inflation Reduction Act in the US and the required carbon accounting in Europe, it’s making our lives a lot easier. We need data and incentives for companies to start working with carbon removal.”

Diving into the technicalities, Katja’s enthusiasm is palpable. Direct air capture, likened to “big ventilators,” stands out as a prime example, converting CO2 from the free air and transforming it under specific conditions. Locations like Iceland and Kenya are already hosting such trailblazing projects. Beyond the innovative gadgets, biochar emerges as a standout in the hybrid carbon removal space, marrying natural processes with human ingenuity. “The validation of projects is increasing because you can easily measure how much CO2 has been captured,” she notes.

The validation of projects is increasing because you can easily measure how much CO2 has been captured

When asked about advice for budding visionaries looking to make a mark, Katja leans in. Every journey starts with recognizing a need, identifying a gap, and having the courage to fill it. It’s not just about technology and data, but also understanding the vital role of nature-based solutions, such as forests, which play an indispensable part in carbon storage and maintaining the ecosystem. Her words are a beacon for anyone yearning to initiate change, signifying that it’s possible to merge passion with action and make a genuine difference in the world.

Taking Charge: Katja’s Vision for a Sustainable Tomorrow

At the heart of Katja’s message lies the ethos of responsibility. “The first step is to get the data in place,” she emphasizes, setting the foundation for any corporate wanting to venture into the green zone. It isn’t just about understanding where you are but about charting the path forward. This baseline understanding of emissions, both current and historical, provides companies a clear vantage point from which to make impactful change.

The first step is to get the data in place

“But the journey doesn’t stop there,” Katja adds. She delineates a systematic three-pronged approach: firstly, companies need a comprehensive reduction plan, aiming to shrink their carbon footprint down to the absolute minimum. Secondly, and only then, should they look into removing the unavoidable emissions. “Reducing emissions is the number one priority,” she states, underlining the importance of prioritization. And throughout all this, transparency is key. She elaborates, “From the climate side, we collect more than 150 data points on each project to ensure a level of detail that’s unparalleled.”

Yet, beyond the hard data and corporate strategies, Katja’s passion resonates most in her message to the individual. “It’s never too late to get started on a sustainability journey.” This quote isn’t merely about businesses; it’s about each one of us taking ownership. The “climate anxiety” she mentions, especially prevalent among the younger generation, can be channeled positively. By taking proactive steps, be it through professional choices or personal lifestyle decisions, the empowerment, she believes, begins to kick in. And that’s where the real change starts.