Google inks deal to purchase carbon removal credits from Indian farms
Notable because
The deal with Varaha, a private project developer, will involve Google purchasing 100,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits from a biochar project in Gujarat across 2025 to 2030, making it the largest biochar offtake to date.
The project will not only help Google offset its emissions, but also contribute to restoring local grasslands. It aims to produce the required biomass by removing invasive shrub species and utilising the consequently produced biochar to enhance soil health.
What to look out for in the months ahead
With the expansion of AI and data centres, more tech giants may seek to offset their growing carbon emissions. Will the launch of the Indian voluntary carbon market in 2025 and the development of sector-specific frameworks encourage a rise in carbon removal projects in India?
Can leveraging existing policies such as MNRE’s Biomass Programme stimulate greater involvement of the agricultural sector in biochar projects, and help curb agricultural residue burning?