S02E05 Verra & Tackling Climate Change Through Tech

Benktesh Sharma, Ph.D., Senior Director of Technology Solutions at Verra, joins us to talk about the effective use of technology in the fight against the biggest issue of our time, climate change.

Benktesh Sharma is a Technology Leader holding a Ph.D. in Forest Sciences and Biology from West Virginia University, along with a M.S. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. As Senior Director of Technology at Verra, Benktesh leads the technological strategy of the world’s leading certifying body for environmental projects, currently contributing to over 85% of the total voluntary market for carbon credits.

Verified Carbon Standards for Climate Actions:

There is no doubt that global warming and climate change are the biggest challenges facing our generation, and putting the lives of future generations at risk. A successful climate strategy at individual and global level is a mix of avoiding, reducing and offsetting emissions. The verified carbon standards (VCS) are among the most widely adopted standards for voluntary carbon offsetting, as they ensure a level of quality for climate projects, and enable transparency and trust.

Some of the topics covered include:

• The role of technology in the fight against climate change in today’s market.
• Carbon cycles and verified carbon credits.
• How technology can help build trust in the carbon markets.
• Different applications of technology for tackling climate action.
• Technological challenges that remain to be solved in the sector.

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