Tao Climate's 2024 Year in Review: Momentum, Milestones, and Good News for the Planet

Good news on climate change? Yes, it exists—and Tao Climate is delivering it. Our mission? To decarbonize aviation using industrial hemp and enable you to help stop climate change. As 2024 comes to a close, let’s take a look back at a year packed with groundbreaking achievements, unexpected laughs, and big steps toward a sustainable future.

Flying High with XPRIZE: Top 100 Carbon Removal Innovators

Tao Climate soared into the global spotlight this year as one of the Top 100 teams in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, sponsored by Elon Musk. This recognition fuels our drive to use industrial hemp and cutting-edge technology to tackle climate change head-on. It also inspired us to keep refining scalable solutions that can transform the aviation industry—and the planet.

Additionally, we have been invited to San Francisco and the closing bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange, further cementing our position as leaders in sustainable innovation.

Funding Boost: Enterprise Ireland and Furthr

Securing funding from Enterprise Ireland was a game-changer for Tao Climate. This investment lets us scale faster, expand our team, and bring cutting-edge carbon removal solutions to airlines and airports worldwide.

We also teamed up with Furthr, Dublin’s innovation accelerator, pitching our vision at their iconic PitchJam series—proof that hemp can be a star on any stage.

The Sky’s Not the Limit: European Space Agency Partnership

2024 took us beyond Earth’s boundaries as we joined the European Space Agency’s technology development program. Using satellite imaging and AI, we’re setting a new standard for emissions tracking and verification.

Explaining hemp-based carbon removal to rocket scientists was a blast—and now they’re all in! ??

Launching the Green Age of Aviation

2024 saw Tao Climate take center stage at two of the world’s biggest aviation events: Future Travel Experience in Dublin and the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam. We unveiled our bold vision for The Green Age of Aviation and showcased solutions like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and carbon removal strategies.

Amsterdam also gave us one of the funniest moments of the year. An airline executive asked, “So, can I get high with hemp?” Our answer? Yes, you can get high—up in the sky—if you use it as sustainable aviation fuel. ??

Breaking Barriers in Berlin: Falling Walls Science Summit

Tao Climate took center stage at Berlin’s prestigious Falling Walls Science Summit, showcasing our revolutionary hemp-based carbon removal solutions. The event highlighted our bold ideas and solidified our role as global sustainability leaders in a room full of Nobel Prize winners and decision makers.

Sparking Sustainability Conversations at Aviation Conferences

From the IBGAA Conference 2024 (sponsored by Gulfstream Aerospace ) to Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s Sustainability Day, Tao Climate sparked conversations about carbon removal, SAF, and MRV technologies. These events proved one thing: the aviation industry is ready to embrace scalable, impactful solutions.

NYU Stern Collaboration: Precision-Driven Decarbonization

In December, Tao Climate wrapped up a groundbreaking project with NYU Stern MBA students. Their research uncovered jaw-dropping stats—like aviation emitting the weight of 6,000 Boeing 747s in CO2 every day—and introduced pricing models that align profitability with sustainability.

The highlight? Presenting at Google’s St. John’s Terminal Office in New York City. Picture this: debates about marketing strategies over lunch with views of the Empire State Building—a day we won’t soon forget.

Award Wins: Three Ireland Business Award and Startup Finals

Winning the Three Ireland Business Award was a proud moment, recognizing our climate innovation efforts. We also made it to the finals of the Irish National Startup Awards (FinTech category), where we met inspiring entrepreneurs working toward a greener world.

The Climate Reality: 2024 in Context

While 2024 was a landmark year for Tao Climate, it was also the hottest year on record, likely exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Scientists flagged alarming trends—extreme weather, warm oceans, and El Ni?o effects—making our mission more urgent than ever.

But the world also saw breakthroughs in renewable energy storage and net-zero pledges from aviation giants—proof that change is possible and necessary.

2025: A Look Ahead

As we turn the page, 2025 promises even bigger leaps for Tao Climate. Here’s what’s coming:

• Pilot Programs with Airports and Airlines: Bringing our vision to life, one runway at a time.
• Scaling Partnerships: Leveraging connections with Google, NYU Stern, Enterprise Ireland, and ESA for global impact.
• Next-Gen Innovations: Exploring hemp biocomposites and scalable SAF solutions to push the boundaries of aviation sustainability.

Thank You for Flying with Us!

To our partners, supporters, and the incredible Tao Climate team—thank you for making 2024 a year to remember. Together, we’ve proven that science, collaboration, and joy can make a real difference. Here’s to a 2025 filled with bigger goals, bolder actions, and even more good news for the climate. ??

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Happy New Year from Tao Climate! Let’s make 2025 our best year yet.