Google、Meta重金投入森林碳權，碳中和進程邁向新階段

近期，Google、Microsoft和Meta等科技巨頭加大了對巴西林業碳權項目的投資，顯示出這些公司對環境永續發展的重視。Google首次購買5萬單位的森林碳權，而Meta斥資超過5億元買入390萬單位的碳權。這些公司還聯合組建了「共生聯盟」（Symbiosis Coalition），承諾在2030年前買入2,000萬單位的自然基礎碳權。

Recently, technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Meta have increased their investment in Brazilian forestry carbon rights projects, showing that these companies attach great importance to environmental sustainable development. Google purchased 50,000 units of forest carbon rights for the first time, while Meta spent more than 500 million yuan to buy 3.9 million units of carbon rights. These companies also jointly formed the "Symbiosis Coalition" and committed to buying 20 million units of natural-based carbon rights by 2030.

Google首次購買巴西林業碳權

Google於9月宣布與巴西碳移除公司Mombak達成協議，計劃在2030年底前購買5萬單位的自然基礎碳權。這是Google首次投資於林業碳移除項目，表明其在碳移除領域的積極佈局。根據報導，Mombak曾以每單位約50美元（約新台幣1,600元）的價格出售碳權，顯示Google此次購買的碳權價格可能高於市場平均價。此外，Microsoft也早在去年簽署協議，購買高達150萬單位的Mombak碳權，顯示科技巨頭們對林業碳移除項目的重視。

Google buys Brazilian forestry carbon rights for first time

Google announced an agreement in September with Brazilian carbon removal company Mombak to purchase 50,000 units of natural-based carbon rights by the end of 2030. This is the first time that Google has invested in a forestry carbon removal project, indicating its active layout in the field of carbon removal. According to reports, Mombak has sold carbon rights at a price of about US$50 (approximately NT$1,600) per unit, indicating that the price of carbon rights purchased by Google this time may be higher than the market average price. In addition, Microsoft also signed an agreement as early as last year to purchase up to 1.5 million units of Mombak carbon rights, showing the importance that technology giants attach to forestry carbon removal projects.

Meta的碳權投資

Meta’s carbon rights investment

Meta has also increased its investment in carbon rights, announcing the purchase of 1.3 million units of carbon rights from the forestry unit of Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual, with an option to purchase an additional 2.6 million units. The deal is worth approximately US$16 million (approximately NT$509.96 million), and the contract period will last until 2038. These carbon rights come from forest restoration projects in Latin America, which have planted more than 7 million tree seedlings. Meta emphasized that this is the largest carbon removal transaction purchased from a single project to date and reflects its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Meta也加大了對碳權的投資，宣布購買來自巴西投資銀行BTG Pactual林業部門的130萬單位碳權，並擁有額外加購260萬單位的選擇權。這筆交易價值約為1,600萬美元（約新台幣5億996萬元），合約期限將持續至2038年。這些碳權來自於拉丁美洲的森林復育專案，該項目已種植超過700萬棵樹苗。Meta強調，這是迄今為止向單一專案購買的最大碳移除交易，體現了其2030年實現淨零排放的承諾。

Google碳權價格是否合理？

Is the price of Google carbon rights reasonable?

Although Google’s carbon rights price seems high, it reflects its demand for high-quality carbon rights. In the past, Google has been criticized for purchasing low-priced carbon credits and failing to truly achieve its carbon reduction goals. However, the Mombak carbon rights selected by Google this time belong to afforestation and forest restoration projects (ARR). Such projects are considered to have high credibility and practical benefits because they not only restore degraded ecosystems, but also promote biodiversity and create job opportunities for local communities. This also explains its high price. According to global carbon market data, the carbon rights prices of ARR projects are mostly between US$12 and US$24, and the transaction price of some projects even reaches US$35.50 per unit. This shows that Google’s carbon rights price is slightly higher than the market average price, but still within a reasonable range.

儘管Google的碳權價格看似偏高，但這反映了其對高品質碳權的需求。以往Google被批評購買低價碳抵換額度，未能真正實現減碳目標。然而，Google此次選擇的Mombak碳權屬於植樹造林和森林恢復類項目（ARR），這類項目被認為具有較高的可信度和實際效益，因其不僅恢復了退化的生態系統，還能促進生物多樣性並為當地社區創造工作機會。這也解釋了其高昂的價格。根據全球碳市場數據，ARR項目的碳權價格大多在12至24美元之間，部分項目的成交價甚至達到每單位35.50美元。這表明Google此次碳權價格稍高於市場均價，但仍在合理範圍內。

Carbon market status and challenges

碳市場現狀與挑戰

Although technology companies actively purchase carbon rights, the global carbon market still faces challenges. According to a report by the non-profit organization "Ecosystem Market", the volume of carbon rights trading in 2023 dropped significantly from the previous year, and the market value dropped from US$1.9 billion to US$723 million. This is mainly due to doubts about the certification mechanism of some carbon rights projects, which has led to a shrinking market. However, prices for high-quality projects such as ARR remain strong, indicating strong market demand for "safe" projects.

儘管科技公司積極購買碳權，全球碳市場依然面臨挑戰。根據非營利組織「生態系市場」的報告，2023年的碳權交易量較前一年大幅下降，市值從19億美元降至7.23億美元。這主要是因為對部分碳權項目認證機制的質疑，導致市場萎縮。然而，ARR等高品質項目的價格仍然堅挺，顯示市場對「安全」項目的需求旺盛。

Summary

科技巨頭如Google、Microsoft和Meta紛紛加大對高品質林業碳權的投資，顯示出他們在實現碳中和目標方面的決心。儘管Google此次的碳權價格偏高，但其選擇的項目具有較高的可信度和實際效益。這表明，科技公司願意支付更多費用以確保其碳權對環境的實際貢獻。然而，全球碳市場仍面臨諸多挑戰，未來的發展將取決於各方對碳權項目質量和透明度的持續關注。

Technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Meta have increased their investment in high-quality forestry carbon rights, demonstrating their determination to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Although the carbon rights price of Google this time is on the high side, the projects it selected have high credibility and practical benefits. This shows that technology companies are willing to pay more to ensure that their carbon rights actually contribute to the environment. However, the global carbon market still faces many challenges, and future development will depend on the continued attention of all parties to the quality and transparency of carbon rights projects.