Google Puts $2 Billion Behind Carbon Removal Project in Brazil

Google has announced its largest carbon removal purchase to date in partnership with Terradot. The deal aims to deliver megaton-scale climate impact by 2030 through a combination of superpollutant elimination and durable carbon removal at rice farms across Brazil.

The agreement involves purchasing 1 million metric tons CO2e (GWP 20) of methane elimination by 2030, and 1 million metric tons of permanent carbon removal by 2040. This approach combines immediate impact through superpollutant elimination with lasting impact through durable carbon removal at a single agricultural system.

The project will transform rice farming into a climate solution by applying two complementary technologies across over 200,000 hectares of rice farms in southern Brazil. First, farmers will adopt Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), an irrigation practice that reduces methane emissions for immediate impact. Then, naturally sourced crushed volcanic rock will be spread across the fields to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW).

This approach ensures a net decrease in warming on every time horizon by pairing fast-acting methane elimination with permanent carbon removal. Farmers will also benefit from reduced water use and lower input costs, as well as improved soil health.