Amazon signs 1.95 million carbon removal deal in South Africa
Will support spekboom planting project in the Eastern Cape
July 03, 2026
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Amazon has agreed to purchase 1.95 million tons of carbon removal credits from a World Bank-backed spekboom planting project in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
– Amazon
The long-term agreement will support the World Bank in launching the Spekboom Outcome Bond, which it claims will give investors confidence in the project’s future demand for credits. The credits will carry ABACUS certification and Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) accreditation, and are available to other companies through Amazon’s carbon credit service, which was launched last year
The project will see 180 million spekboom cuttings, a hardy succulent native to the region, planted across more than 50,000 hectares of degraded land by the end of 2028
Phase I, covering 10,000 hectares with 30 million plants, has been underway since April 2024. Amazon’s investment will add a further 50,000 hectares. The project holds an AA pre-standalone rating from independent agency BeZeroCarbon
According to Amazon, the project will support carbon removal by restoring dusty, dry, degraded land to thriving habitats. The company claims that scientists have found that spekboom can remove carbon from the atmosphere at rates comparable to young tropical forests, in addition to restoring soil health and enabling native ecosystems to recover
The project is also expected to boost the region’s workforce, creating around 11,000 jobs by 2030. The investment forms part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge commitment to reach net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040
The company has signed several carbon removal deals over the years. Most recently, it inked a 685,000-ton credit deal with the Good Rice Alliance in India
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