Google funds Amazon rainforest restoration

November 07, 2025

Google has announced its largest-ever investment in carbon removal credits, partnering with Brazilian reforestation startup Mombak to help restore parts of the Amazon rainforest. The landmark agreement aims to offset 200,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, marking a major step in Big Tech’s race to find high-quality carbon offsets for energy-intensive AI data centers.

This new contract is four times larger than Google’s initial pilot deal with Mombak, which launched in September 2024. While both companies declined to disclose the deal’s value, it underscores how global technology giants are increasingly investing in reforestation and sustainable carbon removal projects to counterbalance their environmental impact.

Big tech’s growing demand for carbon removal

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has already pledged over $100 million toward carbon capture and removal technologies—ranging from enhanced rock weathering and biochar to direct air capture. However, the tech leader says that nature-based solutions like tree planting remain the most effective and scalable method.

“The most reliable technology for removing carbon from the atmosphere is photosynthesis,” said Randy Spock, Google’s Head of Carbon Credits and Removal.

Brazil leads the global reforestation movement

As host of this month’s United Nations COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Amazon, Brazil has branded the event the “Forest COP,” highlighting conservation initiatives like the newly announced Tropical Forests Forever Facility, backed by Norway, Indonesia, and Brazil with a combined $5 billion commitment.

The country’s rapidly growing reforestation industry is attracting global investment, as companies like Google look to support projects that restore degraded pastures into native rainforest ecosystems while ensuring measurable climate impact.

Google chooses quality over controversy

Unlike many corporations, Google avoids REDD+ credits, which compensate for avoided deforestation but have been criticized for potential fraud and weak oversight. Instead, the company has “quadrupled down on Mombak” due to its transparent and scientifically sound approach, according to Spock.

Mombak CEO Gabriel Silva said the company is benefiting from a “flight to quality” as major buyers move away from low-quality or fraudulent offset schemes.

“In the past, companies bought carbon credits without understanding their origin. Now, they demand transparency and measurable impact,” Silva noted.

The symbiosis coalition: setting a new standard

To elevate the credibility of nature-based carbon removal, Google co-founded the Symbiosis Coalition alongside Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce, and McKinsey. The coalition has since expanded to include Bain & Company and REI Co-op, committing to contract over 20 million tons of high-quality carbon offsets by 2030.

Their stringent criteria include transparent carbon accounting, long-term ecosystem preservation, and biodiversity and community benefits. Out of 185 projects reviewed, Mombak’s initiative was the first to meet these rigorous standards, according to Symbiosis Executive Director Julia Strong.

Brazil currently leads all nations in the number of projects seeking coalition endorsement—a trend expected to accelerate as the carbon offset market matures.

Rising prices reflect high demand and limited supply

As demand for verified, high-integrity carbon credits outpaces supply, prices have surged. While REDD credits may cost under $10 per ton, Brazil’s reforestation projects often command $50 to $100 per ton.

“Companies are becoming more efficient at reducing production costs,” Silva explained. “But for now, demand for credible offsets far exceeds what the market can deliver.”

A new chapter in corporate climate responsibility

Google’s deal with Mombak represents more than a carbon offset—it’s a strategic investment in the planet’s natural infrastructure. By channeling funds into Amazon rainforest restoration, the company strengthens its position as a leader in corporate climate action, setting an example for the tech industry’s transition toward a net-zero future.