Microsoft has announced a major new investment in Brazil’s voluntary carbon market — part of the tech giant’s biggest nature-based carbon credits deal to date.
The agreement will see Microsoft buy 1.5 million carbon removal credits over the next decade from Mombak, a pioneering startup working to remove carbon from the atmosphere “through large-scale reforestation projects at tech startup speed” in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
The scale of the project, which is part of Microsoft’s plan to achieve carbon negativity by 2030, is extraordinary: It aims to plant over 30 million native trees and reforest an expansive 70,000 acres, an area equivalent to five Manhattans.
With each credit representing one ton of carbon removed, Microsoft’s purchase of 1.5 million carbon credits translates to the removal of 1.5 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere.
Peter Fernandez, CEO of Mombak, anticipates that the partnership with Microsoft will significantly enhance their reforestation endeavors:
“We have one of the five most valuable companies getting their largest nature-based supply of carbon removal in Brazil. That will be strategic for our business. It will allow us to raise more money for reforestation.”
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Mombak, based in Sao Paulo, uses cutting-edge technology to optimize site selection and ensure the efficacy of reforestation efforts. Cloud technology, machine learning, and drones are integral components of the project, facilitating the identification of the most suitable locations for planting new trees.
The startup sees Brazil as becoming the world’s main exporter of carbon-removal credits thanks to all the deforested land in the Amazon.
The Microsoft-Mombak partnership exemplifies how corporations can play a vital role in mitigating climate change, underscoring the transformative power of technology in addressing the pressing challenges of our time.
“This partnership is a shining example of what can be achieved when tech giants collaborate with innovative startups,” Mombak CEO Mr. Fernandez said. “It demonstrates the potential for technology to play a pivotal role in achieving carbon neutrality goals.“
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: Aerial view of the Amazon Rainforest, near Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, Brazil. Featured Photo Credit: Neil Palmer/CIAT/CIFOR.
