From Commodities to Carbon - Luke Oliver on Building a Market That Works
Luke's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-oliver-3054787/Description:What happens when carbon markets are treated like any other commodity?In this episode, Troy Carter speaks with Luke Oliver, Head of Climate Investments at KraneShares, about the evolution of carbon as an asset class—and what that means for climate action.Luke shares his journey from managing some of the world’s largest commodity ETFs to leading carbon market strategy at KraneShares. Together, they unpack:Why compliance carbon markets (Europe, California) are maturing into powerful price signals.The volatility and “dot-com bubble” moments of voluntary markets—and what might survive the shakeout.The convergence challenge: when and how voluntary credits could integrate into compliance systems.Why capital flows depend on predictable demand signals and clear standards.A vision for scaling climate finance so it becomes “boring”—stable, investable, and massive in scale.If you want to understand where finance meets carbon markets - and why liquidity and trust are the missing links—this is an episode not to miss.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Climate Investments05:56 The Evolution of Carbon Markets12:02 Compliance vs. Voluntary Carbon Markets17:45 The Future of Carbon Pricing and Market Dynamics23:53 Understanding Market Dynamics in Carbon Trading26:02 Navigating Early Stage Project Investments27:39 The Role of Compliance in Carbon Markets30:41 The Future of Carbon Investment Strategies31:48 Envisioning a Sustainable Future36:24 Innovative Solutions for Climate Action39:38 The Economic Case for Ecological Restoration
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45:05
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45:05
Scaling Carbon Removal Responsibly - Stacy Kauk of Isometric
Stacy's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-kauk-p-eng/https://isometric.com/In this episode, Troy Carter sits down with Stacy Kauk, Chief Science Officer at Isometric and former Head of Sustainability at Shopify, to explore how the carbon markets can regain trust and scale responsibly.Stacy shares her journey from UN climate negotiations to building Shopify’s pioneering carbon removal program, founding Frontier, and now shaping a new kind of registry at Isometric. She and Troy dig into:Why speed and responsibility must go hand-in-hand in carbon markets.How dynamic baselines, tech-enabled verification, and transparent methodologies can rebuild trust in nature-based credits.The role of community engagement and FPIC as the true foundation of durable projects.The tension between today’s patchwork of registries and the need for convergence and clear quality bars.Why persistence—and intention—matter as much as science in this fight against climate change.This is a thoughtful, candid conversation on how to make carbon markets work for both people and planet.
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53:51
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53:51
Ollie Potter on the Future of Nature Tech
Ollie's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/potterollie/https://www.naturetechmemos.com/SummaryIn this episode of The Earthshot Podcast, Troy Carter sits down with Ollie Potter, founder of NatureTech Memos and strategist at Deloitte, to explore the future of NatureTech and how innovation can move from hype to real-world impact.Ollie shares what he’s seeing across the climate startup landscape—from the explosion of MRV and CDR providers to overlooked opportunities like invasive species, ocean resilience, and bioprospecting. He also reflects on what corporates are getting right (and wrong) as they engage with climate and nature risk, and why storytelling and problem-first thinking matter more than ever.Key TakeawaysWe’re in a “second wave” of NatureTech: 400+ MRV and CDR providers, with the most successful solving real problems rather than chasing tech-first hype.Invasive species pose massive ecological and economic risks but remain under-discussed—an area ripe for innovation.Corporates in mining, energy, and agriculture are beginning to integrate nature-positive strategies, driven by material risk, not just regulation.New frontiers like bioprospecting show how ecosystems and AI discovery could create win–win models for conservation and industry.At the heart of it all: technology is only as strong as the trust and intention that guide its use.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Nature Tech and Ollie Potter03:00 The Current Landscape of Nature Tech06:04 Emerging Trends and Innovations in Nature Tech08:48 Corporate Engagement in Nature and Sustainability11:59 Understanding Material Risks in Supply Chains14:51 The Intersection of Science and Storytelling17:44 Nature Tech vs Climate Tech: A Comparative Analysis20:40 Success Stories in Nature Tech23:36 The Role of AI in Nature Tech26:26 Ocean Conservation and Innovative Solutions29:29 Community-Led Conservation Efforts32:22 The Future of Nature Tech and Closing Thoughts
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Building an Equitable Earth: The Role of Conservation
What does it actually take to keep forests standing—and make that fair for the people who steward them?Troy Carter sits down with his friend Thibault Sorret, Co-Founder & CEO of Equitable Earth, to unpack a shift from single projects to landscape thinking: protect what’s left, reconnect what’s fragmented, restore where it fits, and build real livelihoods around it. They talk plainly about REDD+, the messy realities of additionality, and why community agency matters as much as any model or tool.You’ll hear:Why Equitable Earth moved decisively into conservation, and what that unlocks for fundingHow to design for whole landscapes (conservation, restoration, agroforestry) rather than one-off fixesA practical take on additionality today—and where better instruments might emerge tomorrowWhy trust is built in the field, not in a spreadsheetIf you work in nature finance—or just care about how these decisions get made—this conversation stays close to the real constraints and the real people doing the work.Links:Earthshot Labs: https://www.earthshot.eco/Thibault's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibaultsorret/Equitable Earth: https://www.eq-earth.com/
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1:01:34
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1:01:34
Building Trust in Nature Markets — Oliver Bolton (Earthly)
What does it take to truly finance nature with integrity?In this episode, Troy Carter speaks with Oliver Bolton, Co-Founder of Earthly, about the realities of building trust in a market that’s often misunderstood. They discuss the gap between ambition and action, why public perception of carbon credits has become so negative, and how to separate high-quality projects from the noise.Oliver shares his personal journey — from becoming a B Corp founder to dedicating his career to nature after the birth of his son — and why trust and data have become central to Earthly’s mission. Together, Troy and Oliver explore the promise of biodiversity credits, the role of technology like bioacoustics MRV, and how businesses can engage authentically with nature.If you’re interested in how climate finance is evolving, what’s slowing it down, and where real hope lies, this conversation offers an honest window into the challenges and bright spots of nature markets today.Links:Earthshot Labs: https://www.earthshot.eco/Oliver's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-bolton/Earthly: https://earthly.org/
The Earthshot Podcast is a project of Earthshot Labs. Our mission is to restore and protect nature at planetary scale, using carbon markets to support financing to meet the scale of the challent.