Microsoft is aggressively taking steps to meet its climate goals. The tech giant just signed a deal to buy 1.4 million tonnes of carbon removal credits from Living Carbon, a nature-based solutions company focused on restoring degraded land through reforestation.
These carbon credits will come from Living Carbon reforesting 25,000 acres of damaged land in the Appalachian region, much of which was left barren after prolonged years of coal mining. Living Carbon is reviving landscapes, improving soil, and bringing jobs to rural communities that need them most.
Microsoft–Living Carbon Pact: Carbon Credits Reforesting Degraded Mines
The company manages the restoration of thousands of acres across the U.S. Their primary focus is former coal mining areas, especially in Central Appalachia, where more than 4 million acres of land have been affected. These sites are often left with compacted soil, toxic metal residues, poor drainage, and invasive species. This makes natural reforestation nearly impossible without active intervention.
Instead of letting these lands go to waste, Living Carbon uses native, fast-growing trees, science-based site prep, and adaptive forest management to kick-start ecological recovery. Their model aims to restore both the landscape and the livelihoods of rural communities that have suffered economically since the decline of coal.
Maddie Hall, CEO and Co-founder of Living Carbon, said,
“Restoring degraded mine lands offers one of the most scalable and meaningful opportunities for nature-based climate action in the United States,” said “We’re proud to be working with Microsoft to advance high-quality reforestation and unlock the potential of some of the most challenging yet important lands in the U.S.—not only for carbon removal, but also for restoring ecosystems and supporting the return of these lands to productivity.”
Key environmental and community benefits include:
- Enhanced biodiversity through native reforestation
- Improved water and soil health
- New job opportunities in rural and formerly industrial areas
- Durable carbon storage on lands that would otherwise remain barren
This is how Living Carbon is supporting top-quality, nature-based projects that restore damaged land across the U.S.
Additionally, top companies like Toyota Ventures, Temasek, Felicis, and Lowercarbon Capital have invested in these projects.
Isometric to Ensure Trust and Transparency in Carbon Credits
The press release revealed that all credits Microsoft receives in this deal will be verified by Isometric, the world’s most credible carbon registry. This is to make sure every tonne of carbon is actually removed. Their Reforestation Protocol uses the latest science to track carbon storage, prevent overestimation, and ensure long-term results.
Isometric also enhances the credit process, allowing projects to earn revenue every month instead of waiting years. Their transparent system keeps a public record of every credit, making it easier for companies like Microsoft to trust the impact they’re buying.
Microsoft Doubles Down on Carbon Removal to Meet Its Net Zero Target
In 2020, Microsoft set a bold climate goal to become carbon negative by 2030. That means removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the company emits across everything it does, including its data centers, offices, and supply chains.
To get there, Microsoft is investing in a mix of clean energy, energy efficiency upgrades, and recently in a series of large-scale carbon removal projects.
Rising Emissions in 2023
This is because in 2023, the company’s emissions jumped by around 29% due to a massive surge in AI and cloud computing demand. All these technologies require enormous amounts of power. Despite the rise, Microsoft says it’s still aiming to hit its 2030 target and therefore ramping up its emission reduction efforts.
It has made some significant investments in carbon removal earlier this year. It includes a 7 million ton agreement with Chestnut Carbon and a 3.5 million ton deal with re.green.
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All these investments show that its commitment to making carbon removal real, scalable, and effective is huge.
In the fight against climate change, this partnership shows what’s possible when technology, nature, and business work together. Microsoft is backing a solution that delivers real results for the planet, for people, and for future generations.
