Beyond Carbon
A Broader View of Climate Solutions
While much climate discussion centers on CO2 reduction, a growing number of scientists argue for a more comprehensive approach. This page explores how forests, healthy soils, and other natural systems play crucial roles in cooling the planet and building resilience against droughts and floods. By recognizing multiple pathways to climate stability, we can discover more immediate and actionable solutions—making this ultimately a story of hope and expanded possibilities.
Introduction - the "Biotic Pump"
1 min 40 seconds - YouTube video
Short video that explains the concept of the Biotic Pump, as studied by Anastassia Makarieva, Russian atmospheric physicist. This concept ties into many of the other talks in this section.
Regenerative Agriculture
"From the Ground Up" video
13 minutes - 2019 documentary about "regenerative" practices used by farmers in Australia to improve their farms using nature to improve the landscape. This has made the farms more profitable and more resilient.
"Regenerating Life" - movie trailer
3 min - video
This trailer introduces a documentary film with three segments that explores: the water cycle, forests and soil, and regenerative farming. The film is available online as pay per view for $6. The concepts discussed in this film are tied into other talks in this section.
Millán Millán
- an article about his research
24 minutes (estimated reading time) This is a 12 page PDF of an article about the work of Spanish climate expert Millan Millan, who died in 2024. It is a good introduction to the topics discussed on this page. Click on the photo to read the PDF.
Wikipedia article on: Millan Millan
Millán Millán
- podcast interview from July 2023
47 minutes audio podcast - This podcast interview is titled "Farm Water at its Proper Scale." Click on the photo to link to the podcast page.
Walter Jehne - 2018
"Climate Solutions for a Blue Planet"
1 hr, 21 min video - YouTube
2018 - Chalk talk at Harvard
Jehne is an Australian soil microbiologist
He talks about the "Soil Carbon Sponge"
click on that term to go to Wikipedia page on it.
click on image above for YouTube video of his talk
Walter Jehne - 2025
remarks and Q&A
25 minutes of remarks - an updated commentary from Jehne, seven years after his 2018 talk. Longer Q&A follows the opening remarks.
Rob de Laet - 2025 - podcast interview
"Water is Key to Cool the Planet"
1 hr 12 minutes - YouTube video
Dutch entrepreneur - active in Amazon rainforest restoration. Interview on the "Investing in Regenerative Agriculture" podcast - August 5, 2025
Mr. de Laet is a founder of : Cooling the Climate
a project to restore the Amazon rainforest
Anastassia Makarieva - 2025 - interview
"Why We Need Forests"
2 hrs - YouTube video
Russian atmospheric physicist, protege of the late Professor Victor Gorshkov, who developed the Biotic Pump theory < link to Wikipedia article on that.
July 9, 2025 interview on Nate Hagens podcast: "The Great Simplification".
Allan Savory - 2013 - TED Talk
22-minute talk - How to reverse the "desert-ification" of our planet; Allan Savory from Zimbabwe, is an expert on land use - he argues that livestock herds are important to reduce growing deserts in Africa - click on image to go to link
Wikipedia article on: > Allan Savory
Allan Savory - 2017 - TED follow up
6 minutes - Q&A follow-up to his 2013 TED talk, asking Allan Savory questions about his earlier TED talk and the reactions to it. - Feb 2017
more info on: the Savory Institute