Bezos Earth Fund and Earthshot Prize channel new capital into carbon removal

Carbon dioxide removal and utilisation technologies are receiving renewed attention as major philanthropic backers seek to accelerate their path to commercial scale. This week, the Bezos Earth Fund announced a new funding programme designed to support early-stage ventures working on carbon removal and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), drawing candidates from the global nomination pool of The Earthshot Prize.

The initiative will allocate a total of $4.8 million over the next three years, with funding distributed across 48 projects. Each selected company or organisation will receive $100,000, with the stated aim of helping promising environmental technologies overcome early technical and commercial hurdles. A particular focus has been placed on approaches that either remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or convert captured emissions into useful products.

Several of the first grant recipients operate in the rapidly expanding carbon removal segment. For instance, Mati Carbon is developing enhanced rock weathering systems deployed on tropical agricultural land. The approach accelerates natural geochemical reactions in which crushed silicate rocks absorb atmospheric CO₂ and convert it into stable carbonate minerals. Alongside durable carbon removal, the process is designed to improve soil fertility and crop yields.

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InPlanet is pursuing a similar pathway, also centred on enhanced rock weathering in tropical regions. The company has been among the first to issue independently verified carbon removal credits linked to this method, reflecting growing interest from carbon markets in nature-based solutions that offer permanence and measurable outcomes.

Carbon utilisation technologies are also represented among the initial cohort. Estonia-based UP Catalyst is advancing a process that converts captured carbon dioxide into climate-neutral carbon materials, including graphite, carbon nanotubes and carbon black. These materials can be used in batteries and industrial composites, embedding carbon in long-lived products while reducing dependence on fossil-derived feedstocks.

The funding announcement comes amid mixed signals for the carbon removal sector. While parts of the U.S. ecosystem are experiencing tighter funding conditions and uncertainty around federal support, global interest in durable removal pathways continues to grow. High-profile competitions such as the XPRIZE Carbon Removal challenge have helped draw attention to methods like enhanced weathering, highlighting their potential to deliver permanent sequestration alongside agricultural and rural economic benefits.

At the same time, CCUS is increasingly seen by policymakers as a necessary component of net-zero strategies. Governments, including those in the UK, are consulting on regulatory and financial frameworks to support deployment across heavy industry, energy and manufacturing, underscoring the technology’s perceived role in long-term decarbonisation efforts.

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Carbon removal and utilisation are increasingly recognised as integral components of credible net-zero strategies, particularly as carbon markets mature and capital shifts towards solutions with demonstrable permanence and co-benefits. This growing emphasis mirrors a broader transition towards high-integrity investments that deliver measurable environmental outcomes alongside long-term economic value. At Green Earth, we develop large-scale, nature-led initiatives that align carbon removal, biodiversity enhancement and community impact within rigorous governance and verification frameworks. As organisations navigate an increasingly complex regulatory and market landscape, establishing a clear, data-driven understanding of their emissions profile is a critical first step. Tools such as the CO₂ Expert tool are designed to support this process, providing companies with a practical foundation for building reliable, long-term environmental strategies.