NTT Data Group, one of the world's largest data center operators, has agreed to purchase carbon removal credits from Swiss startup Climeworks, as the artificial intelligence boom drives increased scrutiny of the technology sector's environmental impact, according to reporting by Axios.
The Japan-based company struck the deal with Climeworks, which specializes in direct air capture technology - a process that removes carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. The specific volume of credits involved was not disclosed by either party.
AI fuels emissions concerns
The agreement comes as the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure places unprecedented demands on global energy systems. Data centers, which power everything from cloud computing to large language models, have drawn growing criticism for their substantial electricity consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
That scrutiny is pushing companies in the sector to seek credible climate commitments, and is expected to widen the market for carbon removal solutions at a time when the industry is navigating significant commercial and technological headwinds.
Carbon removal under pressure
Climeworks, based in Zurich, is among a small number of companies attempting to scale direct air capture technology. The sector has faced setbacks in recent years, including funding challenges and questions about the long-term cost and viability of the technology at scale. Despite those obstacles, corporate buyers in emissions-intensive industries have continued to seek out removal credits as part of net-zero strategies.
NTT Data's purchase signals that demand for such credits may increasingly come from the technology and data infrastructure sector, which has historically relied more heavily on renewable energy procurement and efficiency improvements to meet climate targets.
Broader context
The deal reflects a wider trend of major technology and infrastructure firms making carbon removal commitments as regulatory pressure and investor expectations around climate disclosure intensify globally. Governments in the European Union, the United States, and Japan have all introduced or expanded frameworks requiring large companies to account for their emissions more rigorously.
Neither NTT Data nor Climeworks provided additional comment beyond what was reported by Axios, which said the companies shared details of the agreement exclusively ahead of publication.
