Google inks deal to purchase carbon removal credits from Indian farms

Google will purchase carbon credits from an Indian program that converts significant quantities of agricultural waste into biochar, a type of charcoal that extracts carbon dioxide from the air and reintegrates it into the soil, as announced on Thursday. The agreement – made between Google and Indian provider Varaha – is among the largest ever related to biochar, marking the tech giant’s initial entry into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry.

Google is among several major tech firms aiming to reduce emissions via CDR, which encompasses various strategies intended to extract CO2 currently present in the atmosphere and oceans.

Though certain developers are exploring costly new technologies that capture CO2 directly from the atmosphere, alternatives like biochar might offer a more affordable short-term solution.

“Biochar represents a viable method for carbon removal as it can be implemented globally using current technology, benefiting soil health,” stated Randy Spock, who leads carbon removal at Google. Varaha plans to acquire waste from numerous small farms in India and create reactors to transform it into biochar, capable of sequestering CO2 for centuries. It will also be provided to farmers as a substitute for fertilisers.

Google plans to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits from now through 2030. Madhur Jain, the CEO of Varaha, indicated that there is significant potential for swift expansion, noting that agricultural waste in India could produce sufficient biochar to capture over 100 million tons of CO2 annually. While CDR represents just a small portion of global carbon trading, it is anticipated to expand quickly as nations and companies look for innovative methods to counteract emissions.

Nonetheless, opponents argue that CDR cannot replace reductions in emissions. They additionally caution that options such as biochar do not ensure the CO2 will be eliminated forever.

On February 1, Union Budget 2025 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This will mark her eighth budget presentation, having previously presented one interim and six regular budgets. Morarji Desai established the previous record with six back-to-back budget presentations. Last July, the finance minister’s 60-minute interim budget speech was her briefest budget address so far. In preparation for the upcoming speech, let’s analyze the longest and shortest budget speeches in Indian history.