S4 #10 | CDR Buyers Deep Dive - Part 3: The Future of Buying (in a post-Microsoft world?)

S4E10
44:20
April 30th 2026

In the final episode of our CDR Buyers Deep Dive, Tom and Emily ask what needs to change if carbon removal buying is going to move from early adopters to something much bigger. What would make buying easier, less risky, more attractive, and more scalable? And what happens when the market’s biggest buyer suddenly causes a wobble?

In this episode:

🔎 Trust Me, I’m Infrastructure: Buyers need confidence that what they’re buying is real, durable, verified and defensible. We hear why standards, MRV, insurance, registries and credible intermediaries are much more than just boring plumbing.

🧾 Making CDR Make Sense: It’s not enough for the system to be robust. It also has to make sense to people who don’t spend all day reading carbon removal procurement documents for fun. (No shame to those who do.)

🛡️ Risky Business: We explore how insurance can help unlock finance, reassure buyers and support developers before things go wrong. Reminder: we’re all on the same team here.

📣 Tell Better Stories, Please: We’ve all heard it. Carbon removal often gets explained in climate science language. But CFOs, procurement teams and senior leadership may just need a different story.

🏗️ The Supply Problem: Even if more buyers arrive, there still need to be enough projects to buy from. We learn why early capital, patient funding and policy signals are essential if supply is going to grow. And grow it must.

🧊 The Microsoft Wobble: With reports (and some viral LinkedIn posts) that Microsoft has paused new CDR purchases, we unpack what this means. Is it a market crisis, or a reminder that Microsoft’s buying behaviour was always highly unusual?

👥 Featuring

Guest insights from:

Hosts: Tom Previte and Emily Swaddle

Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks

Podcast Coordinator: Ellie Morris

The Carbon Removal Show

The Carbon Removal Show is the world's leading in-depth podcast on carbon removal.

We combine hours of research and interviews with the world’s leading experts to explore the latest developments in carbon removal technology and policy in an easy to digest and engaging podcast format.

Our narrative driven, story-focused episodes are enjoyed by both experts in the field and climate-curious individuals wanting to learn more about this increasingly widespread topic. The problem of carbon emissions is clear - the solution, however, is not. Our succinct, level-headed and impartial approach to carbon removal gives our listeners the facts and the tools they need to make sense of, and take action on, how we as humanity can sustainably remove carbon from the atmosphere.

To find out more, head to https://thecarbonremovalshow.com/