By Abbas Nazil
Releaf Earth has placed Africa’s carbon finance ambitions in the global spotlight through its issuance of industrial-scale carbon removal credits.
The initiative demonstrates how private-sector experimentation in carbon markets can align with climate policy goals and stimulate economic growth.
The initial tranche of credits, verified at 190 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, was generated from biochar production in Cross River State, Nigeria.
These credits were purchased by multinational corporations, including US software firm Salesforce, through the climate funding platform Milkywire.
Carbon removal credits differ from traditional carbon offsets, which often focus on avoided emissions, such as forest conservation.
Removal credits are generally considered more valuable because they physically extract carbon from the atmosphere and lock it into stable forms for long periods.
Demand for such credits is rising as companies pursue net-zero commitments under increasing regulatory and investor scrutiny.
Releaf Earth converts agricultural waste into biochar through pyrolysis, a low-oxygen heating process that stabilizes carbon in a solid form resistant to decomposition.
The biochar is applied to farmland, improving soil fertility while preventing carbon from re-entering the atmosphere, offering a dual benefit of mitigation and productivity enhancement.
Africa’s agricultural sector produces large volumes of crop residues, much of which is currently burned or left to decay, releasing greenhouse gases without economic return.
Releaf Earth’s model converts this biomass into carbon removal assets, potentially creating a new export industry while enhancing local agriculture.
The company estimates that biochar application can significantly boost crop yields by improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, which is critical given rising global fertilizer prices.
Economists argue that climate mitigation strategies paired with agricultural productivity gains are essential for emerging markets where environmental action must align with development priorities.
One challenge for African carbon projects is credibility in international markets, where verification, governance, and permanence are closely scrutinized by investors.
Releaf Earth’s credits were issued under the Rainbow Standard and supported by geospatial tracking technology to trace biomass from farm source to soil application.
Scaling such projects requires reliable biomass supply chains, capital investment in pyrolysis facilities, stable regulation, and robust rural infrastructure.
Global competition is rising, with North America, Europe, and Asia investing in engineered carbon removal technologies, including direct air capture and mineralization.
Proponents argue Africa’s abundant biomass and lower production costs could provide a structural advantage if policy frameworks and carbon markets mature.
For Nigeria, participation in high-integrity carbon markets could complement economic diversification, offering foreign exchange inflows without fossil fuel liabilities.
Successful projects could attract international investment into climate technology, agriculture, and rural infrastructure, while strengthening Nigeria’s global climate leadership.
Releaf Earth CEO Ikenna Nzewi emphasized that Africa can actively compete in advanced climate solutions, moving beyond being a passive host for conservation-based offsets.
The inaugural carbon credit issuance signals that the continent could evolve into an active exporter of climate solutions, integrating environmental innovation with agriculture and natural resource management.
If replicated at scale, such initiatives could reshape Africa’s economic prospects and position climate-linked development as a major driver of growth in the coming decades.
