Google and Amazon’s newfound fascination with India’s paddy fields
The post Google and Amazon’s newfound fascination with India’s paddy fields appeared first on The Ken .
Google and Amazon have shown renewed interest in India's paddy fields, looking to offset their own carbon footprints. In the first month of the lunar calendar, farmers flood their fields with up to five centimeters of water, letting the paddy soak for five days before draining the excess. This method, known as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), not only conserves water but also reduces methane emissions—paddy fields release 3.2 million tonnes of methane in India, accounting for 16% of the country's total methane emissions.
Companies like Google and Amazon, which emit nearly 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, are now investing in carbon credits to offset their emissions. They are paying up to Rs 2,000 per acre for farmers practicing AWD, as these fields can avoid releasing methane and generate carbon credits. India is a significant source of voluntary carbon offsets, and Big Tech companies are eager to buy these credits to counteract the emissions generated by their data centers and AI infrastructure.
By 2030, hyperscalers like Google and Amazon are expected to account for nearly 30% of India's data center capacity.
Written by urgent.news from The Ken's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
