Bezos Earth Fund Directs New Funding Towards Carbon Removal

Carbon removal and carbon utilisation technologies are gaining momentum as philanthropic capital continues to flow into early-stage environmental innovation. This week, the Bezos Earth Fund revealed a new funding initiative aimed at accelerating the development of carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) solutions, with selected projects drawn from the global pool of nominees for The Earthshot Prize.

The programme will distribute $4.8 million over the next three years, supporting 48 early-stage sustainability-centred ventures. Each recipient will receive $100,000, funding intended to help companies move beyond pilot phases by addressing technical validation, early deployment and commercial readiness. The initiative places particular emphasis on technologies that either remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or transform captured emissions into valuable products.

A number of the first funded projects operate within the fast-growing carbon removal space. Mati Carbon, for example, is deploying enhanced rock weathering across tropical agricultural regions. The technique involves spreading finely crushed silicate rocks on farmland, accelerating natural chemical reactions that absorb atmospheric CO₂ and convert it into stable carbonate minerals. Beyond long-term carbon storage, the approach is also designed to enhance soil quality and agricultural productivity.

InPlanet is pursuing a similar strategy, focusing on enhanced rock weathering in tropical environments. The company has already issued some of the first independently verified carbon removal credits associated with this method, signalling increasing confidence from carbon markets in nature-based approaches that offer durability, scalability and transparent measurement.

Carbon utilisation is also represented among the grant recipients. Estonia-based UP Catalyst is developing a process that converts captured carbon dioxide into climate-neutral carbon materials such as graphite, carbon nanotubes and carbon black. These materials are used in batteries and industrial composites, allowing carbon to be embedded in long-lived products while reducing reliance on fossil-derived inputs.

The funding announcement arrives during a period of uneven conditions for the carbon removal sector. In the United States, some developers are facing tighter funding environments and uncertainty around long-term federal support. At the same time, international interest in durable carbon removal continues to build. Initiatives such as the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition have helped spotlight approaches like enhanced weathering, highlighting their potential to deliver permanent sequestration alongside economic benefits for rural and agricultural communities.

Meanwhile, CCUS is increasingly viewed by policymakers as a critical tool for achieving mid-century net-zero targets. Governments, including those in the UK, are actively consulting on regulatory and financial frameworks to support CCUS deployment across heavy industry, energy production and manufacturing, reinforcing the technology’s role in long-term decarbonisation strategies.