Travel has the power to connect us—to new places, new people, and new ideas. But as travelers, we also have a responsibility to protect the world we are exploring. That is why CAS Trips partners with Tomorrow’s Air, helping student travelers take meaningful steps toward sustainability.
This year, Tomorrow’s Air expanded its carbon removal portfolio to include Octavia Carbon, an innovative company based in Kenya. As the first direct air capture (DAC) company in the Global South, Octavia Carbon is pushing boundaries in climate action. This partnership underscores the belief that solutions to global challenges must also empower local communities.
“We share a philosophical alignment with Tomorrow’s Air – that tourism has a uniquely powerful opportunity to inspire and educate people about the significance and potential of carbon removal technologies,” says Martin Freimüeller, founder and CEO of Octavia Carbon.
“With Tomorrow’s Air we know we’ll be helping to educate and inspire travelers who will hopefully share what they know with others. Connecting with travel businesses and travelers is especially exciting for us, and we hope every traveler who comes on safari to Kenya might also learn about the significant carbon removal industry being launched in this vibrant, fertile region.”
A Groundbreaking Facility in the Rift Valley
Nestled in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Octavia Carbon’s facility is breaking new ground in carbon removal. Opened in November 2024, the DAC plant uses cutting-edge technology to pull CO₂ directly from the air, leveraging the Rift Valley’s abundant geothermal resources.
It operates on a 93% renewable energy grid, using geothermal waste heat to meet more than 80% of its energy needs. The captured CO₂ is stored permanently in the region’s basaltic rock formations, creating a cost-effective and natural solution to fight climate change.
For travelers with CAS Trips, this has real implications. The small fee included in their trip contributes directly to this work, which has now increased the impact of 29 kilograms of CO₂ removed and stored permanently per $20, thanks to Octavia joining Tomorrow’s Air’s carefully selected partners.
Climate Action Rooted in Community
Octavia Carbon’s mission extends beyond climate technology, too. The company is 99% Kenyan and predominantly young, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering local talent. Their team includes engineers, scientists, and innovators who are breaking barriers in a rapidly evolving field.
The facility itself operates in Naivasha, a community largely composed of Maasai and Kikuyu people. Beyond creating jobs, Octavia Carbon is addressing critical local needs, including access to clean water and education. Scholarships for high school students and community-driven water initiatives highlight how sustainability and social progress can go hand-in-hand.
We feel that these human stories will resonate deeply with our CAS Trips travelers. Students not only witness innovation in action but also see the faces and hear the voices of those leading these efforts, offering a personal connection to the impact of their trips.
Lessons in Sustainability
For us, sustainability is a way to inspire students to think differently about the world. Through our partnership with Tomorrow’s Air, we are introducing young travelers to the tangible impacts of carbon removal and showing them how technology, collaboration, and education can create meaningful change. Along with Tomorrow’s Air and Octavia Carbon, we emphasize traveler education, ensuring the experience extends beyond carbon offsets.
Why This Matters
What makes Octavia Carbon stand out is not just its innovative approach to climate change—it is the way it weaves local voices into global solutions. For students, seeing young people like themselves leading these efforts has the potential to be transformative.
These experiences challenge travelers to think beyond individual actions and see how collective efforts, across borders and industries, create lasting change. This allows us to invite a deeper understanding of what it means to care for the planet and the people who call it home.
Join Us in the Journey
This partnership is about building connections—between people, places, and the shared responsibility to protect our future. Through these collaborations, we are helping students understand their role in a global community.
Learn more about Octavia Carbon on episode 38 of the Airrows on Air podcast and how you can get involved at www.tomorrowsair.com.
Together, let’s reimagine travel as a force for good.
