Tech giant inks deal to buy 1.5 million carbon removal credits from Mombak, aiming to become carbon negative by 2030.

Tech giant inks a deal to purchase 1.5 million carbon removal credits from Mombak, a startup restoring degraded Amazonian land.

In a major move towards carbon neutrality, Microsoft has announced a significant investment in Brazil’s voluntary carbon market. The tech giant will purchase 1.5 million carbon removal credits through 2032 from Mombak, a startup focused on reforesting degraded land in the Amazon rainforest.

This ambitious project aims to plant more than 30 million native trees across 70,000 acres – an area five times the size of Manhattan. This aligns perfectly with Microsoft’s goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030, and represents the company’s largest nature-based carbon credit purchase to date.

Leading the Way in Carbon Removal

Mombak’s approach leverages technology to optimize site selection and ensure effective reforestation. The project utilizes cloud technology, machine learning, and drones to identify the most suitable locations for planting new trees.

“We try to build the markets that we buy from,” says Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft. “We hope this is a model for the future. We want to see it in jurisdictions in and beyond Brazil.“

Mombak’s CEO, Peter Fernandez, believes this partnership will significantly boost their efforts:

“We have one of the five most valuable companies getting their largest nature-based supply of carbon removal in Brazil,” Fernandez explains. “That will be strategic for our business. It will allow us to raise more money for reforestation.“

A Timely Announcement

This announcement comes at a crucial time, coinciding with the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. It underscores the growing importance of nature-based solutions in the fight against climate change.

“This partnership is a shining example of what can be achieved when tech giants collaborate with innovative startups,” says Fernandez. “It demonstrates the potential for technology to play a pivotal role in achieving carbon neutrality goals.“

Microsoft’s involvement lends credibility to the carbon removal market, paving the way for wider adoption of these solutions. By investing in projects like Mombak’s, Microsoft is taking a leading role in addressing the global climate crisis.

Related Article: Microsoft and UNFCCC Team Up for AI-Driven Climate Monitoring at COP28

This partnership shows that corporations can play a significant role in mitigating climate change by supporting innovative projects that benefit both the environment and the communities they operate in.