Google has announced a significant initiative to purchase carbon credits from an Indian program converting agricultural waste into biochar, a charcoal-like material that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improves soil health.
This collaboration with Indian supplier Varaha marks Google’s entry into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector and represents one of the largest biochar deals to date, Reuters news report said. Financial details were not disclosed.
Biochar, produced by converting agricultural waste in reactors, can sequester CO2 for centuries and serves as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. Google’s agreement involves purchasing 100,000 tons of carbon credits by 2030, with Varaha sourcing waste from smallholder farms and scaling production to potentially store over 100 million tons of CO2 annually.
CDR currently constitutes a small fraction of the global carbon market but is poised for rapid growth as nations and corporations explore strategies to offset emissions. Despite its promise, critics caution that CDR is not a replacement for reducing emissions and question the permanence of CO2 removal with solutions like biochar.
Varaha CEO Madhur Jain emphasized the urgency of addressing peak warming, advocating for all available methods to mitigate the climate crisis, even if some solutions offer temporary relief.
GreentechLead.com News Desk
