Microsoft has signed a three-year agreement with Indian carbon-removal startup Alt Carbon to purchase nearly 37,000 metric tons of carbon removal credits, marking its first enhanced rock weathering deal in Asia. The credits will come from Alt Carbon’s Darjeeling Revival Project, where crushed basalt rock is applied to farmland to accelerate natural carbon capture processes.
The partnership highlights India's rising importance in the global carbon-removal market. Founded in 2023, Bengaluru-based Alt Carbon works with more than 35,000 farmers across roughly 80,000 acres and plans significant expansion as demand for verified carbon-removal credits grows. The deal also reflects increasing confidence among global buyers in scientifically verified climate projects emerging from India.
Reference: TechCrunch