Microsoft Signs Major Carbon Removal Deal with CO280 Startup

Microsoft has inked a multimillion-dollar carbon removal agreement with CO280, a startup that is integrating innovative carbon capture technology into existing pulp and paper mills. Under the deal, Microsoft will support the capture of 3.7 million tons of CO2 over the next 12 years using biogenic methods and SLB Capturi technology. The arrangement, confirmed in early April 2025, is backed by prominent investors such as Toyota Ventures and the Grantham Foundation, reinforcing Microsoft’s commitment to scalable sustainability solutions.

This initiative comes as part of a broader context in which environmental oversight faces challenges, including staff and program cuts at agencies like the EPA and NASA. While bipartisan resistance continues to slow the repeal of important climate tax credits, similar forward-looking projects—including ventures into small fusion energy reactors and legislative proposals like the Clean Cloud Act—underline a shifting landscape in climate and energy innovation. The CO280 deal stands as a significant milestone in efforts to permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere and combat climate change.