Climate Rising Microsoft ’s Climate Strategy and Its Carbon Removal Deal with Chestnut Carbon
Sep 10, 2025
Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft, and Greg Adams, CFO of Chestnut Carbon, delve into massive carbon removal strategies. They discuss a groundbreaking 25-year deal aiming to deliver 7 million tons of carbon credits, alongside Microsoft's ambitious carbon-negative goals. Brian shares insights on utilizing the Climate Innovation Fund to foster decarbonized markets. Meanwhile, Greg elaborates on integrating afforestation with private equity to ensure integrity in carbon credits, plus advice for those aspiring to enter the carbon sector.
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Four Missing Markets For Carbon Negative
- Microsoft targets four "missing markets": clean energy, clean materials, clean transport, and carbon removal to hit its carbon-negative goal.
- Carbon removal functions as both a backstop for hard-to-abate emissions and a way to address historical emissions.
Removals Are A Reductions-First Backstop
- Microsoft emphasizes a reductions-first approach and uses removals sparingly for annual targets starting in 2030.
- The company follows IPCC and UNFCCC science to size long-term removals needs in its plan.
Buy Broadly And Signal Long-Term Demand
- Build a diversified portfolio across CDR pathways and buy long-term to balance cost, timing, and scale.
- Publish quality criteria and collaborate with other buyers to signal consistent demand.