An interview was conducted with Ryo Harada, Manager of the Global Sourcing Unit at GreenCarbon. Having worked in various industries before joining Green Carbon mid-career, he shares his work style and the sense of fulfillment he finds in his role.
Please read through to the end!
Q. Could you please share a brief introduction about yourself, including your career so far?
I joined an IT company as a new graduate and worked for internet advertising operations. After that, I explored various industries, such as foreign finance and managing a tutoring school.
During the pandemic, I became interested in going abroad, so I quit my job and went to study in the Philippines. At first, I planned to return to Japan quickly, but living abroad was much more enjoyable than I had expected, and I found myself desiring to learn more about the world. That’s when I decided to become a digital nomad, working in web marketing while traveling around the world.
I spent about two and a half years traveling through 10 countries and 50 cities, mostly in Southeast Asia. Along the way, I saw firsthand the rapid economic growth in countries often called developing nations. At the same time, I also faced the harsh realities of environmental destruction, climate change, and economic inequality.
While trying to figure out how to combine social impact with business, I discovered Green Carbon and decided to join. Now, I’m working on projects in Thailand and developing new initiatives.
Q. What inspired you to join Green Carbon?
I got to know about GreenCarbon through an acquaintance. Thanks to my experience in the education industry, I realized how challenging it can be to balance ‘social significance’ with ‘high profitability.’ I was drawn to GreenCarbon’s business because it seemed to offer both at a high level.
At the time, I was living a free-spirited lifestyle, traveling around while working as a freelancer. There was no pressure or stress, and I worked when I wanted to, earning enough to live comfortably. I was enjoying a carefree life, thinking, ‘Where should I go next week?’ or ‘Maybe I’ll live in Bali and surf next month.’ But at the same time, I was starting to get a bit bored of such a lifestyle. I was looking for something I could commit to seriously.
That’s when I had a conversation with the CEO, Mr. Okita, and learned more about GreenCarbon’s vision and scale. I was inspired and realized I wanted to be part of that mission. As I got into my mid-30s, I started reflecting more on my career and wondering how many opportunities of this kind would come up in the future. I could continue with a comfortable job and enjoy my private life, or I could try something new within the industries I had experience in. At that point, I found the idea of diving into this growing industry and contributing to the development of a leading global company incredibly exciting. When I thought about which path would be more thrilling, the answer was clear.
Q. What kind of work are you involved in?
Currently, I am working in the overseas business department, handling projects in Thailand. In simple terms, my job involves planning and executing projects that generate carbon credits.
Our company’s carbon credit business can be divided into two main parts: 1) creating carbon credits and 2) selling them. To create carbon credits, we need to design the overall project, which includes deciding on the area, methods for reducing or removing greenhouse gases, and determining which certification agencies and methodologies to use. We also need to figure out who to sell the credits to, at what price, and how much initial investment is required. This requires collaborating with various stakeholders, including not just businesses but also government agencies, local governments, international organizations, and academic or research institutions.
For example, in a project aimed at reducing methane emissions from rice paddies, the final step is to get the cooperation of farmers. To achieve this, we need to understand who is connected with the farmers—whether it’s government agencies or banks—and identify areas with potential, such as those that emit a significant amount of methane. This requires gathering various types of information and resources.
In addition to strategic planning, arranging meetings, negotiating deals, coordinating with various parties, and assembling the projects, I also participate in numerous events. Despite being a startup, our company frequently gets invited to speak at international events. In the past month alone, I have attended two speaking engagements in Thailand, one in Tokyo, and I am scheduled to speak in Morocco and Abu Dhabi next month. This field is still in its early stages, and both our company and our partners are facing many challenges as almost everything we do is new.
Q. What challenges would you like to take on in the future?
What’s most exciting is the global scope. In the short term, I want to focus on expanding projects in Thailand. Given the business plans and scale we’re aiming for, I believe that in the near future, we’ll need a team of dozens or even hundreds of people, so I want to increase our market presence as a team. Our company has the advantage of being able to enter the market early, so I believe we have a great chance to lead the industry and set the standard. I want to be someone who can lead in the center of this whirlwind.
I’m confident that this is an environment where there are many opportunities to make things happen. In the mid- to long-term, I want to do things that only GreenCarbon can do and that only I can do. For example, there is a technology called DAC (Direct Air Capture), which separates and captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. Currently, it’s very costly, and there are many hurdles to making it commercially viable, but it’s possible that, in the future, we could create low-cost carbon capture devices. In addition, plants that could absorb greenhouse gases on a large scale might emerge due to genome editing. More realistically, combining cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, and satellite data will give rise to new services. I believe this field will continue to see the emergence of services that didn’t exist before. With our vision of ‘saving the Earth with the power of life,’ if we can maximize the power of life and leave unprecedented value with a global impact, it would be an incredible achievement.
Q. Could you share a message for those who are interested in working at GreenCarbon?
The climate change that our planet is currently facing is one of the biggest challenges. Its impacts are vast, threatening our lives, economy, and the global ecosystem. The Paris Agreement aims for global carbon neutrality by the second half of this century, with many countries setting 2050 as their target year. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to near zero. In just over 20 years. Do you think it’s possible? We are looking to contribute to this immense problem through business. The size and complexity of the issue only means there is a clear need, a market, and opportunities.
Throughout my career, I have come to believe that there are three key things when it comes to working:
- Being in an industry with growing markets
- Having few competitors
- Doing something beneficial for society
At events, the name GreenCarbon is mentioned alongside governments and major corporations. I stand next to CEOs and VIPs from various companies. From the East to the West, across industries. Normally, this would be an unimaginable situation. I haven’t spent years researching this field, nor have I dedicated most of my career to environmental business. Yet, I am able to work with people I could never have met before in my life. Why? Because carbon credits are a completely new mechanism and industry. Also, no other company is approaching this field at this scale and perspective.
Startups are exciting because the future is uncertain, but that’s also what makes them risky. If you enjoy working in a chaotic environment where the outcome is uncertain, if you want to create a great company with your own hands rather than just join one, if you want to work globally and do work that benefits the planet, let’s work together!