This episode features Dr. Zara Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of Carbon Direct – a leading New York based carbon management firm. We had a great conversation, dissecting the realities of today’s Voluntary Carbon Market. We looked at why carbon removal credits still make up only 4% of the market, what truly defines a high-quality carbon credit, and why fewer than 10% of projects meet that bar today.

Likewise, we touched on the imbalance in removal types – with 98% coming from nature-based projects and only 2% from high-durability solutions – and what needs to shift for high-permanence Carbon Removal Credits (CDR) to scale. Another key theme was market resilience, raising questions about buyer concentration and how to diversify demand.

Aside from the Carbon Market, we discussed Zara’s packed career journey, how she became COO of Carbon Direct and how her diverse professional and educational background shaped a practical, interdisciplinary approach to environmental policy.

Lastly, we ended on a broader note: the reasons to stay optimistic about climate innovation.