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Google Partnering In Indian Farms To Offset Carbon Emissions

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Google Partnering In Indian Farms To Offset Carbon Emissions

India-West News Desk

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Google announced its first venture into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector through a deal with Varaha, an Indian supplier based in Gurugram, to purchase carbon credits. The agreement focuses on producing biochar, a type of charcoal that absorbs carbon dioxide and stores it in the soil.

Varaha will source agricultural waste from smallholder farms across India and convert it into biochar using specialized reactors. This biochar, which can trap carbon for centuries, will also be provided to farmers as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Google on January 16 said it plans to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits from Varaha by 2030, marking one of the largest biochar-related carbon credit agreements globally. Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead, described biochar as a scalable solution with additional benefits for soil health.

Varaha’s CEO, Madhur Jain, highlighted the potential for significant expansion, noting that agricultural waste in India could generate enough biochar to sequester over 100 million tons of CO2 annually.

While carbon dioxide removal remains a small part of global carbon trading, it is expected to grow as corporations and nations seek innovative ways to offset emissions. Though biochar is considered cost-effective and scalable compared to emerging technologies like direct air capture, it faces criticism from some who argue that it should not replace efforts to reduce emissions. Jain acknowledged these concerns but stressed the urgency of using all available methods to mitigate climate change, even if some solutions offer only temporary carbon storage.

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