Climeworks Partners NTT DATA to Scale Carbon Removal for AI and Data Centre Decarbonisation

ZURICH, May 4, 2026 – Climeworks has entered into a strategic partnership with NTT DATA Group to support the company’s long-term net-zero ambitions through the deployment of high-quality carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions.

The agreement marks Climeworks’ first portfolio partnership with a major AI infrastructure player, underscoring the growing role of carbon removal in addressing emissions from the rapidly expanding digital economy.

Targeting residual emissions in a “reduce-first” strategy

Under the partnership, Climeworks will provide NTT DATA with a diversified portfolio of carbon removal solutions aimed at addressing residual emissions that remain after conventional decarbonisation measures.

The portfolio combines both engineered and nature-based approaches, all of which are sourced and quality-vetted through Climeworks’ scientific due diligence framework. This ensures that the credits meet high standards of durability, additionality and transparency, factors that are increasingly critical as scrutiny of carbon markets intensifies.

The collaboration aligns with NTT DATA’s Net Zero 2040 Vision, which prioritises emissions reduction through operational improvements, renewable energy adoption and digital optimisation, with carbon removal used selectively to address hard-to-abate emissions.

“Climate action requires practical execution, clear priorities and transparency,” said Yutaka Sasaki, President and CEO of NTT DATA Group. “Our agreement with Climeworks complements these efforts by applying high-quality carbon removal credits toward our residual emissions.”

NTT DATA has already made progress in reducing its operational footprint, with renewable energy accounting for 56% of its electricity consumption in fiscal year 2024, and further gains expected in its upcoming reporting cycle.

The company is targeting net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions across data centre operations by 2030, global office operations by 2035, and Scope 3 emissions by 2040.

AI growth brings carbon removal into focus

The partnership comes at a time when the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure is driving increased energy demand and emissions from data centres.

As AI adoption accelerates, companies are under growing pressure to manage the environmental impact of digital infrastructure while maintaining performance and scalability.

David Costa, Chief Sustainability Officer at NTT DATA, emphasised the need for practical, measurable strategies. “Clients are asking for sustainability strategies that are operational and grounded in real data. Our approach is to reduce first, be transparent about progress, and use carbon removal where it is justified.”

Climeworks co-CEO Christoph Gebald highlighted the broader implications for the technology sector, noting that carbon removal is becoming an integral part of decarbonisation strategies in the AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence scales and data centre construction expands, companies need credible ways to manage their carbon footprint,” he said. “By providing access to hundreds of kilotonnes of carbon removal over the next decade, we are demonstrating that carbon removal is becoming a critical part of the AI economy.”

Scaling high-integrity carbon removal markets

The agreement also reflects a broader shift in carbon markets towards high-integrity, science-based removal solutions.

Unlike traditional carbon offsets, which often focus on emissions avoidance, carbon removal technologies actively extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it permanently or for long durations. These solutions are seen as essential for achieving net-zero targets, particularly for sectors with residual emissions.

Climeworks, known for its direct air capture (DAC) technology, has increasingly expanded its offerings to include diversified carbon removal portfolios, combining multiple pathways to balance scalability, cost and durability.

By committing to a multi-year carbon removal agreement, NTT DATA is contributing to demand-side growth in the sector, which is critical for scaling emerging technologies and attracting investment.

Implications for corporate climate strategies

For corporates, the partnership reinforces the growing adoption of a “reduce first, remove later” framework. This approach prioritises emissions reduction through efficiency and renewable energy, while using carbon removal as a complementary tool for emissions that cannot be eliminated.

The collaboration also highlights increasing expectations from enterprise clients for sustainability strategies that are measurable, transparent and integrated into core business operations.

As companies move from pledges to implementation, the ability to access high-quality carbon removal solutions is likely to become a differentiating factor in climate leadership.

The Climeworks–NTT DATA partnership signals a deeper convergence between climate technology and the digital economy. As AI and data centre infrastructure continue to expand, managing their carbon footprint will become a central challenge for the technology sector. Carbon removal is expected to play a growing role in this transition, particularly as demand for high-integrity solutions increases.

With hundreds of kilotonnes of carbon removal expected to be delivered under the agreement over the next decade, the partnership not only supports NTT DATA’s net-zero pathway but also contributes to the scaling of global carbon removal markets.

In the broader context, such collaborations point to a future where carbon removal becomes a standard component of corporate decarbonisation strategies, particularly in high-growth, energy-intensive industries.