Tech Companies Spent Millions on Climate Fix, But Is It Just a Rock?

To combat the effects of climate change, several prominent companies have partnered with a startup called Terradot to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using rocks. Google, H&M Group, and Salesforce are among the companies that have collectively agreed to pay Terradot $27 million to capture 90,000 tons of CO2. This deal was brokered by Frontier, a carbon removal initiative led by Stripe, Google, Shopify, and McKinsey Sustainability.

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Google’s Commitment to Carbon Removal

In addition to this agreement, Google has also announced its own deal with Terradot to purchase an additional 200,000 tons of carbon removal. While the company declined to disclose the cost of this deal, it is estimated to be around $60 million based on the price per ton of CO2 captured in the Frontier agreement.

The Role of Enhanced Rock Weathering

Terradot uses a strategy called enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process involves crushing rocks and spreading them out over a large area, increasing the surface area exposed to react with CO2. The resulting chemical reaction traps CO2 in water as bicarbonate, which is then carried away by groundwater to the ocean, where it is stored.

The Benefits of ERW

ERW has several benefits that make it an attractive option for carbon removal. Firstly, it is a relatively low-tech and cost-effective method compared to other forms of carbon capture. Additionally, it can be deployed in a variety of locations, including farmland, which provides an additional benefit of improving soil quality.

Challenges and Limitations

While ERW shows promise as a carbon removal strategy, there are still several challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. One of the main concerns is the difficulty of measuring the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere using this method. Terradot plans to take soil samples to assess the degradation of rocks over time, but it is harder to determine how much calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate makes its way to the ocean.

The Role of Partnerships and Collaboration

Google’s investment in carbon removal through ERW highlights the importance of partnerships and collaboration in addressing climate change. By working together with companies like Terradot and other industry leaders, Google can leverage expertise and resources to accelerate the development and deployment of new technologies.

The Limitations of Carbon Removal

While carbon removal is an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it should not be seen as a substitute for preventing emissions in the first place. In fact, experts say that carbon removal is no more than 20% effective at reducing emissions, and even then, it is only a temporary solution.

Conclusion

Google’s investment in Terradot and ERW demonstrates its commitment to addressing climate change through innovative technologies. However, it also highlights the limitations of carbon removal as a standalone solution. To combat climate change effectively, companies like Google must prioritize reducing emissions in the first place, while also investing in new technologies that can help counteract some of the legacy pollution.

Comments

4 Comments

Comment 1

Carbon removal is an important tool, but it’s not a substitute for emissions reductions. We need to prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the first place.

Comment 2

I agree that carbon removal is just one piece of the puzzle. We also need to focus on energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Comment 3

Google’s investment in Terradot is a step in the right direction, but we need more companies to follow suit.

Comment 4

The uncertainty surrounding ERW is still a concern, but I think it’s worth exploring further. We can’t afford to overthink it at this point.

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