Hosted by: Ed Whittingham, renowned climate expert and policy advocate
Guests: Greg Nemet (University of Wisconsin), Klaus Lackner (Arizona State University), David Keith (University of Chicago), Sara Hastings-Simon (University of Calgary), Christian Theuer (Heirloom), Jim McDermott (Rusheen Capital Management), Éric St-Pierre (Trottier Family Foundation)

ESG News Podcast Review: Scrubbing the Sky – Episode 4

Reviewed by Matt Bird, CEO of ESG News

Scrubbing the Sky is the definitive podcast exploring the urgent push to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As Season 1 comes to a close, host Ed Whittingham faces the controversy head-on, tackling one of the most heated debates in climate innovation: can Direct Air Capture (DAC) truly scale to meet global needs—or is it a costly distraction?

Key Highlights:

• Al Gore’s Critique: The episode opens with sharp skepticism from former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who labels DAC a “deceptive lie” used to justify ongoing fossil fuel use. Whittingham and guests dissect this claim and explore whether it’s a moral hazard—or misunderstood.
• Supporters Respond: A robust defense is mounted by leading experts like David Keith and Klaus Lackner, who argue that scalable DAC is both technologically possible and economically necessary in the race to net zero.
  Market Signals and Global Investment: With DAC markets forecasted to hit $1 trillion by 2037, the episode examines policy mechanisms, public funding trends, and global investment shifts, with insights from Heirloom, the Trottier Foundation, and more.

Ed Whittingham doesn’t shy away from tough questions: Who will pay for DAC? Can costs fall fast enough? And what is the role of oil and gas expertise in a carbon removal future? These are the debates shaping climate policy today—and this episode makes them tangible.

Rating: 5/5

Courageous, critical, and essential. The season finale challenges conventional thinking while offering a clear-eyed vision for the road ahead. Scrubbing the Sky cements itself as a leading voice in the carbon removal conversation.

Special Mentions: This podcast was Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts

Watch Episode 1
Watch Episode 2
Watch Episode 3

RELATED ARTICLE: Scrubbing the Sky Podcast: Episode 3 – The Carbon Gold Rush with Climeworks & Tech’s Climate Leaders