Meta closes deal to buy up to 3.9 mln carbon credits in Latin America

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🗞️ Driving the news: Meta has secured a deal to purchase up to 3.9 million carbon credits from BTG Pactual's forestry arm in Latin America by 2038
• The agreement is Meta's largest carbon removal project, aiding its goal of net zero emissions by 2030
• The credits will support forest restoration projects in the region

🔭 The context: Carbon offsets are a tool for companies to balance their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in environmental projects that reduce emissions elsewhere
• Meta’s deal follows Microsoft’s purchase of 8 million credits from BTG Pactual, signaling tech giants' growing role in offsetting initiatives despite broader skepticism around the effectiveness of such credits

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Large-scale purchases of carbon credits like Meta's can support reforestation efforts and provide a temporary solution to corporate emissions, but doubts remain about their real impact on long-term carbon reduction

⏭️ What's next: Meta’s move highlights the tech industry’s increasing involvement in voluntary carbon markets, potentially influencing other corporations to follow suit, despite concerns about offsets' credibility

💬 One quote: Meta called the transaction “its largest carbon removal project to date,” as part of its 2030 net zero commitment

📈 One stat: Last week's average price for forestry carbon offsets was $4.22 per credit, valuing Meta’s deal at up to $16 million

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