UCLA scientist Gaurav Sant is the subject of an in-depth Bloomberg feature unpacking his contributions as the brains behind decarbonization startups like ocean carbon removal outfit Equatic and low-carbon concrete startup CarbonBuilt. As the head of the Institute for Carbon Management (ICM), Sant is steering the institute away from academic articles and focusing instead on practical solutions to slash emissions with some degree of success. Equatic is currently operating a carbon removal system at the Port of Los Angeles and is constructing the world's largest ocean-based CO2 removal plant in Singapore. CarbonBuilt kicked off commercial production for its technology last year which claims to slash emissions during the lifecycle of concrete by 70% to 100%.

But it’s not all smooth sailing: Carbon capture technologies face challenges from activists and experts who are concerned they could delay the shift away from fossil fuels, Bloomberg explains. Carbon capture tech like Equatic's also consume significant energy — up to 2 MWh per ton of CO2 removed, enough to power an average US home for over a month. Since bns of tons of CO2 removal will likely be needed by 2050, the high energy demand is concerning. “The energy needs are so exorbitant, you’d be better off just using that energy for anything else,” Climate NGO Project Drawdown CEO Jonathan Foley told Bloomberg.

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