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Google, H&M Group, and Salesforce have collectively agreed to pay Terradot $27 million to remove 90,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This investment is part of a growing trend among big companies to invest in carbon removal strategies.
Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Low-Tech Approach to Carbon Removal
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a relatively low-tech approach to carbon removal that involves crushing rocks and spreading them out over a large area to increase the surface area exposed to CO2. This process mimics natural weathering, which can take thousands of years to occur.
Terradot’s Strategy: A Partnership with Farmers in Brazil
Terradot has partnered with farmers in southern Brazil to use its ERW strategy on over one million hectares of land. The company uses basalt from quarries in the region and grinds it into a fine powder that can be used as a soil amendment by farmers.
Challenges Ahead: Measuring CO2 Removal
One of the challenges facing Terradot is measuring how much CO2 its ERW strategy actually removes from the atmosphere. Google acknowledges this challenge in its announcement, stating that "it’s hard to measure with precision how much CO2 this process removes from the atmosphere."
The Role of Carbon Removal: A Supplement, Not a Substitute
While carbon removal strategies like ERW may be able to counteract some of the pollution caused by fossil fuels, they are not a substitute for preventing greenhouse gas emissions in the first place. Experts say that carbon removal is no more than an attempt to slow climate change while companies transition to clean energy.
Google’s Investment: A Large but Small Step
Google’s investment in Terradot’s ERW strategy is significant, with the company agreeing to purchase an additional 200,000 tons of carbon removal from Terradot. However, this is still a small fraction of the 14.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution that Google was responsible for last year.
The Future of Carbon Removal: A Collaboration Between Companies and Governments
The future of carbon removal will likely involve collaboration between companies, governments, and research institutions to develop and deploy new technologies. While ERW may be a low-tech approach, it has significant potential as a strategy for removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Conclusion
Google’s investment in Terradot’s ERW strategy is an important step towards developing carbon removal technologies. However, it is essential to remember that carbon removal is not a substitute for preventing greenhouse gas emissions in the first place.
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Comments
- "This is a step in the right direction, but we need to do more to address climate change. Companies like Google need to prioritize reducing their emissions and investing in clean energy." – John
- "I’m not convinced that ERW is an effective strategy for removing CO2 from the atmosphere. We need to focus on developing new technologies that can be deployed at scale." – Jane