Wedoany.com Report on Feb 2nd, According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, achieving the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree climate target requires not only reducing carbon emissions but also removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. To address this challenge, Microsoft has launched a Carbon Dioxide Removal initiative, advancing its sustainability commitments by supporting global projects.
Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft's Chief Sustainability Officer, stated on social media: "In 2025, the company signed agreements to remove 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, double the amount from the previous year." This figure is equivalent to taking about 9.8 million cars off the road for a year. She emphasized that scaling high-quality carbon dioxide removal not only helps Microsoft achieve its own carbon negative goal but also fosters market development and encourages more companies to participate.
In supporting carbon removal projects, Microsoft adopts a direct partnership model with suppliers. Phil Goodman, Director of the company's Carbon Removal Portfolio, noted: "Carbon removal requires purchasing credits to sustain the economic model. By providing forward demand commitments, suppliers can secure funding and advance their projects." Microsoft typically purchases only a small portion of a project's total credit volume, aiming to set a reference for other businesses through rigorous due diligence.
Microsoft's partnership projects include Lithos Carbon's Enhanced Rock Weathering technology. This technique involves spreading crushed basalt on farmland, allowing it to combine with rainwater and atmospheric carbon to remove CO2. Mary Yap, CEO of Lithos Carbon, stated: "This method restores soil health, reduces erosion, and helps both farmers and the planet." In 2024, the two parties signed a three-year contract to remove over 11,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
Additionally, Microsoft collaborates with Agoro Carbon Alliance to remove carbon from the agricultural sector. In June 2025, they reached an agreement for Microsoft to purchase 2.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide removal over 12 years. Agoro Carbon Alliance encourages farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices, such as no-till soil preparation and cover cropping, to store carbon in the soil. Commercial Director Dylan Lubbe said: "Soil is a natural carbon sink, but traditional farming practices release stored carbon. Market mechanisms can provide the incentive to solve the problem."
