• $100M Investment: TotalEnergies partners with Anew Climate and Aurora Sustainable Lands to enhance carbon sequestration across 300,000 hectares in the U.S.
• Improved Forest Management: Focus on sustainable practices to reduce timber harvesting and increase carbon storage, supporting natural carbon sinks.
• Alignment with U.S. Policies: TotalEnergies’ efforts align with the U.S. government’s Voluntary Carbon Markets Principles for integrity, transparency, and environmental protection.

TotalEnergies, a global energy company, has made a significant investment of $100 million in sustainable forestry to bolster carbon sequestration in the United States. The company partnered with Anew Climate, a leader in climate solutions, and Aurora Sustainable Lands, a carbon-stewardship company, to deploy projects aimed at transforming forest management practices.

The collaboration targets Improved Forest Management (IFM) across 20 carbon projects spanning 300,000 hectares in 10 U.S. states, including Arkansas, Florida, and Michigan. These projects aim to protect productive forests from excessive timber harvesting, promoting sustainable practices that enhance carbon storage and preserve natural habitats.

Adrien Henry, Vice President of Nature Based Solutions at TotalEnergies, emphasized, “We are thrilled to partner with such experienced specialists as Anew Climate and Aurora Sustainable Lands, who develop high-quality projects aimed at the sustainable preservation of natural carbon sinks, which is essential to achieve carbon neutrality.” This partnership underscores TotalEnergies’ commitment to fostering sustainable forest management and aligns with its broader climate strategy.

The initiative aligns with the U.S. government’s Voluntary Carbon Markets Principles issued on May 28, 2024, which advocate for integrity, transparency, and environmental protection in carbon markets. Henry stated, “TotalEnergies has very positively received the U.S. government’s recently published guiding principles on Voluntary Carbon Markets and is committed to follow them to contribute to strengthening integrity and transparency in these markets, as demonstrated by this partnership.”

Anew Climate and Aurora Sustainable Lands will oversee the operational aspects of the projects, ensuring adherence to high standards of additionality and durability in carbon sequestration efforts. Angela Schwarz, CEO of Anew Climate, remarked, “Anew Climate is honored to partner with TotalEnergies on their journey to reach carbon neutrality. We have a shared belief that an ‘all of the above’ strategy is required to achieve meaningful climate impact.”

Jamie Houston, CEO of Aurora Sustainable Lands, added, “Aurora’s carbon stewardship enhances climate resilience while safeguarding vital ecosystems across our forestlands. Together we are yielding substantial and lasting climate impact at a massive scale.”

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The carbon credits generated from these projects will be acquired by TotalEnergies and retired beyond 2030, supporting the company’s goal to offset part of its remaining direct Scope 1 and 2 emissions after prioritizing emission avoidance and reduction. This move not only bolsters TotalEnergies’ sustainability efforts but also contributes to the global fight against climate change.

By investing in sustainable forestry and adhering to the U.S. government’s principles, TotalEnergies demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and the transition to a low-carbon economy.