Overview

• Google has committed to purchasing 100,000 tons of biochar carbon removal credits each from Varaha and Charm by 2030, marking the largest biochar carbon removal deals to date.
• Biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from biomass, sequesters CO2 for hundreds to thousands of years while improving soil health and fertility.
• Varaha will produce biochar in India using invasive plant species and agricultural waste, restoring grasslands and supporting smallholder farmers with sustainable practices.
• The agreements are part of Google's broader strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, complementing other carbon removal technologies like direct air capture and enhanced rock weathering.
• Critics caution that while biochar offers scalable benefits, carbon dioxide removal solutions are not substitutes for reducing emissions at the source.