To limit global warming to 1.5°C, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that we must remove at least eight billion tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere each year by 2050. This pressing need underscores the importance of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which can range from reforestation projects to high-tech methods like direct air capture (DAC). Recognizing the urgency of developing and scaling these solutions, we at Vapaus partnered with Supercritical, a leading carbon removal marketplace known for its rigorous project-vetting protocol, to offset our 2024 carbon emissions.
In the fiscal year 2024, Vapaus generated a total of 979 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent. We compensated for these emissions by retiring 979 high-quality carbon credits via Supercritical. Among the notable projects we support is the TIST Program in Uganda (VCS 2497). TIST (The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program) operates across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and India, engaging over 95,000 farmers – 35,000 of whom are women – to improve lives, empower communities, and positively impact the climate. In Uganda alone, TIST has been active since 2004, working with approximately 65,000 farmers across 3,600 villages. Together, they have planted over 10 million trees, generating multiple benefits such as vocational training on HIV/AIDS, improved agricultural methods, and enhanced hygiene practices. Farmers earn income from carbon credit sales while retaining ownership of the tree products they grow, including fruit, nuts, and sustainable wood. This model ensures that participants have both immediate and long-term incentives to protect the newly planted trees.
We also invest in Varaha Industrial Biochar in India, which uses advanced pyro gasification technology to transform waste corn shank into stable biochar that sequesters carbon for over a thousand years. By converting agricultural residue into a valuable resource, the project not only provides a reliable method of long-term CO₂ storage but also reduces emissions from traditional waste disposal methods like burning or decomposition.
By channeling our carbon offset spending toward these high-quality CDR initiatives, we demonstrate our commitment to meaningful and lasting climate action. Each project we support brings extensive social and environmental advantages to its region, be it economic empowerment for local farmers in Uganda or innovative waste-to-resource solutions in India. Through collaboration with Supercritical, we can be confident our offsets are both transparent and impactful, thereby helping us address our residual emissions responsibly while contributing to global efforts to stabilize our climate.
