Google signs its biggest rice-methane carbon credit deal with Indian startup Mitti Labs

Google has agreed to purchase 1 million carbon credits from Indian climate-tech startup Mitti Labs through 2030, marking the largest publicly announced agreement for credits generated from reducing methane emissions in rice cultivation. The four-year deal encompasses rice farms across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, spanning roughly 100,000 hectares at peak delivery. The project financially incentivizes farmers to adopt alternate wetting and drying methods, which decrease field flooding durations to curb methane emissions by approximately 50% and reduce irrigation water use by 40% without compromising crop yields. The credits will be certified under either Gold Standard or Isometric registries and verified by independent third parties. This procurement aligns with Google's objective to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, an ambitious target facing headwind pressures as its greenhouse gas emissions climbed 18% in 2025 to 14.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent due to heavy investments in AI infrastructure. The initiative follows previous sustainability investments in India, including biomass biochar credits and solar power contracts.