Unlocking Environmental Data for a Healthier Planet: Splunk's Partnership with OpenAQ, Radiant Earth, and WattTime

Splunk has partnered with OpenAQ, Radiant Earth, and WattTime to enhance data access and digital tools for informed decision-making on environmental challenges. The nonprofits aim to increase data access and provide digital tools for better decision-making, supporting a healthier planet. OpenAQ aggregates real-time air quality measurements, Radiant Earth enables data-driven decision making for sustainability and conservation, and WattTime provides digital tools to support informed decision-making for a sustainable planet.

Meta and Microsoft have entered into long-term agreements to purchase carbon credits from a forestry project in Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. These deals aim to support climate-smart forest management practices and contribute to the companies’ sustainability goals. The project, managed by EFM and supported by Climate Asset Management (CAM), focuses on Improved Forest Management (IFM) practices, including lengthening tree rotation periods, reducing logging impact, and promoting selective harvesting. These methods aim to increase carbon storage, enhance biodiversity, and support local communities. Together, Meta and Microsoft will purchase almost 1.4 million carbon credits from the project.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is working toward an ambitious climate target: to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2030. This means the company plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, suppliers, and users’ activities. Meta has already achieved net-zero emissions for its own operations and runs all its global facilities on 100% renewable energy. However, its larger challenge lies in addressing emissions from suppliers, product use, and transportation. Meta’s recent 10-year agreement with EFM, which will provide 676,000 nature-based carbon removal credits by 2035, is part of its broader climate strategy. These credits will help offset unavoidable emissions while supporting reforestation and biodiversity restoration.

Microsoft has set one of the boldest climate goals in the tech sector: to become carbon negative by 2030. This means that the company plans not only to reduce its own emissions but also to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits. Microsoft is taking a three-part approach: reducing its emissions, removing carbon through innovative solutions, and supporting high-integrity carbon offset projects. As part of this strategy, Microsoft signed a multi-year agreement with EFM to purchase up to 700,000 carbon removal credits from the Olympic Rainforest project. These credits come from improved forest management practices that help store more carbon and support local ecosystems. Microsoft has committed $1 billion to its Climate Innovation Fund, which invests in early-stage technologies and nature-based solutions like reforestation, soil carbon enhancement, and ocean-based removal.

Forests play a critical role in fighting climate change by acting as carbon sinks. Projects like the Olympic Rainforest help by stopping deforestation, removing CO₂ by boosting forest growth, and restoring land. The project’s climate-smart forestry practices are expected to deliver multiple benefits, including carbon removal, biodiversity enhancement, community engagement, and economic opportunities. These long-term carbon credit agreements reflect a shift in corporate procurement strategies, with companies moving from spot carbon credit purchases to long-term offtake agreements. This approach provides price certainty and supports the development of high-integrity carbon markets.

The latest market data shows that credits generated by IFM projects are getting more interest and value from corporations. Their trading volume increased three times as seen below [1]. Meta and Microsoft’s long-term carbon credit deals with the Olympic Rainforest project represent significant steps toward their respective climate goals. By investing in climate-smart forestry practices, these companies are contributing to carbon removal efforts, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement.

References:
[1] https://carboncredits.com/meta-and-microsoft-secured-long-term-carbon-credit-deals-to-support-olympic-rainforest/