Microsoft's Massive Carbon Offset: 1.5M Tonnes in India

Microsoft Biggest APAC CO2 Removal Project Now Live in India

Microsoft, in collaboration with partners Climate Impact Partners and Terra Natural Capital, has launched its largest APAC-region carbon removal project online. Its Panna afforestation project of 20,000 hectares in India's Madhya Pradesh will remove three million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Major Project Features

Microsoft has invested in buying 1.5 million tonnes of carbon removal credits that have been certified over the next 30 years, to account for 50% of the project's total volume.

The project will entail planting trees on farmer and community land in order to facilitate carbon sequestration and economic opportunity.

Already, more than 1.2 million trees have been planted in 100 communities, while 11.6 million indigenous trees are also to be planted in the subsequent phase.

Farmers will benefit economically from revenues of sales of carbon credits and revenues of cultivation of fruit and medicinal plants.

Training in climate-resilient agriculture techniques, major water infrastructure, and management of biodiversity are part of the project.

Strategic Partnership for Carbon Removal

The project is supported by Terra Natural Capital finance, Climate Impact Partners project development expertise, and Microsoft's carbon dioxide removal commitment. It has been through three years of third-party evaluation, pilot operation, and due diligence to confirm its credibility and effectiveness.

Scaling Nature-Based Solutions

The project is a crucial milestone in scaling up nature-based carbon removal initiatives. The model of partnership assures constant capital flows to drive development in the project and enable corporations to achieve climate ambitions.

Impact on the Environment and Communities

Apart from sequestration of carbon, the project will confer socio-economic impacts on farmers and communities. Sustainable production is promoted and economic resilience through diversification of income.
Enhanced Market for Carbon Credits

The action is one of a series to grow the world carbon removal market. The commitment by Microsoft underlines the potential of business investment in fueling mass climate action and turning sustainability ambitions into a reality.