Project Cypress DAC Hub team awarded funding from U.S. DOE
Project Cypress in Louisiana, where Climeworks is the anchor direct air capture technology provider, has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Energy
Climeworks at Climate Week NYC 2024
Climeworks was honored to participate in Climate Week NYC, the largest annual climate event of its kind, which took place from September 22 to 29. With more than 900 events bringing together leaders from business, technology, politics, academia, and civil society, it was an inspiring week. We were excited to contribute to the conversation, advancing climate solutions and advocating for the role of carbon removal in tackling climate change.
Leaders from Climeworks—including Chief Executive Officer Christoph Gebald, Chief Financial Officer Andreas Aepli, Chief Project Development Officer Daniel Nathan, Chief Commercial Officer Adrian Siegrist, and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Chan—hosted a series of impactful, engaging gatherings, fostering actionable discussions around high-quality carbon removal solutions to drive progress in achieving net zero.
Agenda highlights: Driving carbon removal leadership
September 23: Climeworks Carbon Removal Summit U.S. 2024
We were excited to host Climeworks’ inaugural Carbon Removal Summit U.S. 2024 on September 23 at the iconic Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. Building on the success of our previous five Summits in Switzerland, this was the first time we brought the event across the Atlantic—and it exceeded our expectations.
This invitation-only event welcomed representatives from major organizations, including Google, Mastercard, Microsoft, SAP, Spotify, L’Oréal, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), JP Morgan, and many more.
Some highlights of the day included:
Keynotes by Christoph Gebald, co-founder and co-CEO of Climeworks, and Senator Josh Becker, from California’s State Senate, author of the “Carbon Dioxide Removal Market Development Act” (SB 308). Bloomberg journalist and author Akshat Rathi also provided an insightful keynote, emphasizing "Climate Capitalism" and the role of the private sector in driving climate action.
A panel discussion on "The economic opportunity of carbon removal in the U.S." featuring Noah Deich, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy; Giana Amador, Executive Director, Carbon Removal Alliance; Noël Bakhtian, Director of Tech Acceleration, Bezos Earth Fund; and moderated by Andrew Fishbein, Lead Government Affairs North America, Climeworks.
A masterclass on "Creating a carbon removal portfolio" with Adrian Siegrist, Chief Commercial Officer at Climeworks; Richard Probst, Director Advisory at CDR Solutions; Cornelius Pieper, Managing Director at BCG; Antoine Poulallion, Senior Director of Sustainability at BCG; and Aurelia Figueroa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Breitling.
Throughout the afternoon, participants also joined smaller breakout sessions covering a range of topics, from finance to policy. One such session was the roundtable titled "Innovation at the nexus of climate and health." Moderated by Fiona Adshead, Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and featuring opening remarks by former Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, the discussion delved into the role of the healthcare industry—which contributes for approximately 5% of global annual emissions—in driving climate action while navigating its unique challenges.
The Summit concluded with a networking reception overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral, providing an opportunity for meaningful connections among leading experts in the field.
September 24: Climate, Nature and Business Reception
On September 24, Climeworks co-hosted the Climate, Nature, and Business Reception alongside the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York, Swissnex, and WBCSD. This exclusive event shined a spotlight on the work of climate leaders and fostered dialogue that inspires collective action.
The Reception opened with remarks from Ambassador Niculin Jäger, Consul General of Switzerland; David Crane, Under Secretary for Infrastructure at the U.S. Department of Energy; Dr. Adil Najam, President of WWF International; and Benjamin Bollmann, CEO of Swissnex in New York and Boston.
Following these speeches, business leaders discussed the upcoming WBCSD report, "Carbon dioxide removal and the journey to net zero." Speakers included Nancy Gillis, Senior Director of Industrial Decarbonization at WBCSD; Grant Sprick, VP Climate & Environment at Ahold Delhaize; Tatsuro Watanabe, CSO at MOL; and Daniel Schmid, CSO at SAP.
September 25: Women in Climate Finance Roundtable
On September 25, we hosted a roundtable centered on Women in Climate Finance, bringing together women decision-makers and sustainability experts to network, share knowledge, and discuss advancements in the field. Key participants included Franziska Tück, Head of ESG at Climeworks, and Barbara Truyers, Director of Strategic Partnerships Management - Finance & Services, who co-hosted an intimate breakfast gathering of 16 leaders.
The discussions were powerful, and hopeful, covering topics such as the mid-term return on investment for climate projects; the impact of soaring energy demand from AI and data centers on net zero targets; and the critical role of collaboration and creative solutions in addressing climate challenges.
Some key takeaways from the event were:
There’s no competition in climate action—only collaboration.
The time is now; we need creative solutions and joint efforts to drive transformative progress.
Staying curious and open is essential for fostering productive partnerships and innovation in sustainability.
The breakfast underscored the value of focused gatherings, where women leaders can share best practices and support one another in driving change. We look forward to continuing these conversations and building new partnerships.
Thank you!
We want to thank all those who joined us and helped make our participation in Climate Week NYC 2024 so inspiring. We cannot wait for Climate Week NYC 2025! If you have suggestions for speakers, participation opportunities for Climeworks representatives, or would like to set up a meeting with a Climeworks delegate, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Watch the Summit U.S. wrap-up video
Learn more about Climeworks' activities in the U.S.
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Climeworks announces its U.S. headquarters in Austin, Texas, with additional teams in New York, Washington, D.C. and California.
U.S. DOE selects all DAC Hub applications Climeworks participates in
Together with its project partners, Climeworks received Notification of Selection for three out of three direct air capture hub proposals from the U.S. Department of Energy.
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