Dr. Jonathan Foley, Ph.D. | Executive Director, Project Drawdown

Episode notes

Climate change is driven by emissions from various human activities such as burning fossil fuels, manufacturing cement and steel, plowing soils, and clearing forests. These actions release carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gasses into the atmosphere, which trap heat and contribute to global warming. Methane, particularly from cattle, rice fields, landfills, and fossil fuel operations, is a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change. In addition to human activities, emissions also come from agricultural lands, industrial sites, and urban areas. While much of these greenhouse gasses remain in the atmosphere, nature plays a crucial role in mitigating their impact. Natural processes like photosynthesis act as "sinks," absorbing and storing carbon in plants, soil, and oceans. Though significant amounts of emissions are absorbed by these natural reservoirs, most remain airborne, contributing to global warming. Addressing this imbalance requires enhancing the capacity of these natural sinks and reducing emissions at their source.