Meet the Morrills: Understanding a Pioneering Family in Carbon Removal

Who: Nori, Maggie, Eva, and Fletcher Morrill are a family deeply involved in the burgeoning field of carbon removal. While Nori is the most well-known entity, a company founded by Paul Gambill and Christophe Jospe in 2017, the involvement of the Morrill family, particularly Maggie Morrill, significantly shapes Nori's direction and vision. Eva and Fletcher are involved in other aspects of sustainability and ecosystem regeneration, reflecting a shared family commitment.

What: The connection between the Morrill family and Nori signifies a powerful, multi-faceted approach to addressing climate change. Nori is a carbon removal marketplace focused on incentivizing and facilitating the removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) through verified methods, primarily regenerative agriculture practices. Maggie Morrill, as a key advisor and advocate, brings a crucial perspective on ecological health and community engagement, extending Nori's reach beyond a purely technological solution. Eva and Fletcher's individual work in related fields adds further depth to the family's commitment to environmental stewardship.

When: Nori was founded in 2017, capitalizing on the growing awareness of the need for active carbon removal alongside emissions reduction. The Morrill family's involvement has been ongoing, with Maggie's influence becoming increasingly prominent as Nori matures and focuses on building trust and fostering long-term relationships with farmers and other stakeholders. The context of this involvement occurs within a critical timeframe: The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (2021) highlighted the urgency of carbon removal to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Where: Nori operates as a global marketplace, connecting buyers of carbon removal credits with suppliers, primarily farmers and ranchers, across various geographies. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, but its operations extend to agricultural lands worldwide, particularly in the United States and Australia. The Morrill family's influence is felt globally, promoting a holistic approach to carbon sequestration that considers local ecosystems and community needs.

Why: The Morrills' commitment to carbon removal stems from a deep-seated belief in the power of regenerative practices to heal the planet and build a more sustainable future. Nori's mission is to incentivize carbon removal by creating a transparent and reliable marketplace where farmers can be fairly compensated for their efforts. The family's involvement ensures that Nori's approach is not solely focused on technological solutions, but also prioritizes ecological health, social equity, and long-term sustainability.

Historical Context:

The concept of carbon sequestration is not new, but its widespread adoption as a climate mitigation strategy is relatively recent. Historically, forests and oceans were recognized as natural carbon sinks. However, the destruction of forests and unsustainable agricultural practices have significantly reduced their capacity. The industrial revolution, with its reliance on fossil fuels, dramatically increased atmospheric CO2 levels, leading to the current climate crisis.

The idea of actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere gained traction in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, driven by scientific research and growing awareness of the limitations of emissions reduction alone. Technologies like Direct Air Capture (DAC) and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) emerged, but often faced challenges related to cost, scalability, and environmental impact.

Regenerative agriculture, which focuses on restoring soil health and biodiversity, has emerged as a promising carbon removal approach that offers multiple benefits, including improved crop yields, water retention, and ecosystem resilience. Nori's focus on regenerative agriculture aligns with this trend, recognizing the potential of agricultural lands to act as significant carbon sinks.

Current Developments:

Nori is currently focused on expanding its marketplace and improving its verification methodologies. Key developments include:

  • Expanding the network of farmers: Nori is actively recruiting farmers and ranchers who are implementing regenerative practices and seeking to sell carbon removal credits. This involves providing technical support and resources to help farmers transition to more sustainable practices.

  • Refining verification methodologies: Nori is working to develop robust and transparent verification methodologies to ensure the integrity of its carbon removal credits. This involves incorporating scientific data, field measurements, and remote sensing technologies.

  • Developing new carbon removal pathways: Nori is exploring new methods of carbon removal, such as biochar production and enhanced weathering, to diversify its offerings and increase its overall impact.

  • Building partnerships: Nori is collaborating with organizations across the carbon removal ecosystem, including research institutions, non-profits, and corporations, to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon removal technologies and practices. For example, they are exploring partnerships with companies looking to offset their carbon footprint using Nori's marketplace.

  • Addressing concerns about permanence and additionality: Nori is actively working to address concerns about the permanence and additionality of carbon removal projects. Permanence refers to the long-term storage of carbon, while additionality refers to ensuring that carbon removal projects would not have occurred without the incentive provided by the carbon market. Nori uses methodologies and third-party verification to ensure these standards are met.

    • Maggie Morrill's Role:

    Maggie Morrill's expertise lies in ecological restoration and community building. Her involvement in Nori brings a focus on:

  • Ecological integrity: Ensuring that carbon removal projects are designed and implemented in a way that protects and enhances biodiversity and ecosystem health.

  • Community engagement: Building strong relationships with farmers and ranchers and empowering them to participate in the carbon market.

  • Social equity: Ensuring that carbon removal projects benefit local communities and promote social justice.

  • Long-term sustainability: Promoting practices that are not only effective at removing carbon but also contribute to the long-term health and resilience of agricultural landscapes.

    • Likely Next Steps:

    Looking ahead, Nori is likely to:

  • Expand its geographic reach: Focus on scaling its operations to new regions and countries, particularly those with significant agricultural potential. This expansion will likely involve adapting its methodologies and approaches to suit local conditions and needs.

  • Increase the volume of carbon removal credits traded on its marketplace: Drive demand for carbon removal credits by educating businesses and consumers about the importance of carbon removal and providing them with access to high-quality credits.

  • Develop more sophisticated financial products: Explore new financial instruments, such as carbon futures and options, to manage risk and attract investment in carbon removal projects.

  • Advocate for supportive policies: Work with policymakers to create a regulatory environment that supports the development and deployment of carbon removal technologies and practices. This includes advocating for carbon pricing mechanisms and incentives for regenerative agriculture.

  • Focus on MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification): Refining and improving its MRV processes is crucial for maintaining trust and attracting investment. This will involve incorporating new technologies and data sources to enhance the accuracy and transparency of carbon removal assessments.

  • Explore blockchain technology: Nori already uses blockchain to track carbon removal credits, and further exploration could lead to greater transparency and efficiency in the carbon market.

The Morrill family's commitment to Nori highlights the importance of a holistic approach to climate change mitigation. By combining technological innovation with ecological understanding and community engagement, they are helping to build a more sustainable and resilient future. The success of Nori and similar initiatives will depend on continued innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to ensuring that carbon removal projects are both effective and equitable.