Stories
of Earth Heroes
How Satellite Data is Changing the Game: Frontierra’s Take on Deforestation, EUDR, and TNFD
In this episode of Earth Central, host Konstantinos welcomes Lewis Rattray, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Frontierra, to explore the exciting world of satellite technology, nature-related risks, and how businesses are navigating sustainability challenges.
Lewis takes us through Frontierra’s journey from its inception to becoming a leading consultancy that uses satellite data to monitor deforestation and environmental risks. We discuss how satellite monitoring is revolutionizing industries, helping companies manage their impacts on nature, and empowering them to act quickly on environmental challenges.
Lewis sheds light on how Frontierra’s work with TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures) pilot projects in Latin America and the evolving landscape of biodiversity and nature-related assessments are shaping global sustainability practices.
Key Topics Covered:
• Satellite Technology for Environmental Monitoring:Discover how satellite technology is helping businesses in industries like finance and agriculture identify and mitigate nature-related risks. From monitoring vast supply chains to tracking deforestation, satellite data is a game-changer in sustainability efforts.
• TNFD Pilot Projects in Latin America:Lewis discusses Frontierra’s involvement in TNFD pilot projects with financial institutions in Colombia and Brazil. These projects are helping shape how companies assess and report on nature-related risks, setting new standards for environmental accountability.
• Real-Time Satellite Monitoring – The Future:We explore the potential of real-time satellite monitoring, which could revolutionize how industries respond to environmental changes. Luis explains the challenges of making this technology widely accessible and affordable, but emphasizes its future importance, especially for preventing deforestation.
• Challenges in Working with Remote Farmers and Smallholders:Sustainability efforts often face hurdles in remote areas, where farmers may lack the technology to monitor their plots. Luis highlights the difficulties and potential solutions in helping smallholder farmers engage with sustainability programs, particularly under the EUDR (European Deforestation Regulation).
Reinventing Carbon Markets: Ethical Challenges, Tech Innovations, Solutions and Challenges
In this insightful episode, we sit down with Elias Ayrey, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Renoster, to explore the current and future landscape of carbon markets. Elias pulls back the curtain on the flaws in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) and discusses how innovative solutions like remote sensing and AI can bring much-needed transparency and reform.
Elias shares Renoster’s mission to combat inefficiencies in the market by validating carbon projects with cutting-edge technology, ensuring that carbon credits are both credible and impactful. We dive into the ethical dilemmas and conflict of interest surrounding carbon offset projects, highlighting the lack of benefit to local communities and calling for more transparency in project revenues.
He also provides recommendations for reforming carbon markets, from third-party verification to financial transparency, outlining a bold vision for change.
Finally, Elias offers a glimpse into the future of carbon markets, predicting more stringent regulations and transparency, but also warning of the risks if these issues aren’t addressed soon.
Key Takeaways:
- Ethical Challenges: Carbon offset projects often fail to benefit local communities—Elias calls for public transparency in project revenues.
- Flaws in the Carbon Market: Elias outlines recommendations to make the market more credible, including better regulation and third-party verification.
- Technology’s Role: Remote sensing can revolutionize carbon credit monitoring.
- The Future of Carbon Markets: Stricter regulations and transparency will shape the future, but swift reform is needed to maintain credibility.
Tune in to learn more!
Elias Ayrey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elias-ayrey/
Renoster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/renosterinc/posts/?feedView=all
Orbify LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbify