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Microsoft backs tree-planting carbon elimination plan in Panama

Microsoft Corp has struck an offer to buy 1.6 million carbon elimination credits from what the developers state is one of the largest fully financed naturebased removals tasks in Central America.

The 10,000 hectare project in Panama is part-financed by Microsoft, which is one of the largest corporate purchasers of credits, and intends to eliminate 3.2 million tonnes of carbon from the environment by planting over 6 million trees in locations degraded by livestock ranching.

Tech giants internationally are investing billions of dollars on tasks which lock away or avoid carbon emissions as part of their efforts to satisfy sustainability objectives.

But voluntary carbon markets, which make it possible for companies to buy credits to offset their emissions, are under-fire over issues that many of the projects do not provide the environmental or sequestration advantages they claim.

What sets this job apart, developer Ponterra said, is the truth it focuses on bring back land deteriorated by livestock ranching by planting 6 million trees - known as reforestation - rather than securing existing forests from logging.

This means the job can sell carbon credits based on additional tons of carbon removed from the environment, rather than on prevented emissions.

The task will also promote biodiversity remediation and supply over $70m to local neighborhoods through lease payments, a. share of carbon credit sales paid to landowners, incomes and. donations to regional NGOs.

It comes as scientists and interested celebrations argument whether. allowing business to buy offsets is good for the world.

In the U.S. cloud based computing and AI are driving. emissions greater. Microsoft's own carbon emissions have actually risen. 30% since 2020 mainly due to its building and construction of information centres,. the tech giant said in its 2024 sustainability report.

It has actually devoted to achieving absolutely no carbon emissions and. waste by 2030 however will require to acquire carbon credits in order. to do so, purchasing 5.015 million metric tonnes of carbon removals. in 2023 to support this.

The task is being developed by Ponterra, with Rubicon. Carbon and Carbon Streaming who together with Microsoft supplied the. financing. The backers did not divulge the size of the offer, or. the rate per heap paid by Microsoft.

(source: Reuters)