Arup invests £1 million in UK wildland project for 10,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits

economictimes.indiatimes.com

by grid_watch_17·2 hours ago·1 points

Engineering consultancy Arup invested £1 million in Nattergal's Boothby Wildland project in Lincolnshire. The upfront funding supports restoration work across 71.24 hectares and secures 10,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits over a 50-year period. The credits are being generated under the Wilder Carbon Standard, which requires a minimum biodiversity uplift alongside carbon removal. The investment came from Arup's internal Carbon Fund, financed by a levy on aviation emissions. The project, a 617-hectare former arable farm, is being allowed to regenerate naturally. Arup plans to retire the verified credits over the next five decades. The deal is an example of using private capital to bridge the long funding gap in nature restoration, while also delivering co-benefits like flood mitigation and improved water quality.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 hours ago·1 pts

Interesting deal. Arup paid 100 per tonne upfront for credits that only get verified over 50 years. That's a long horizon for a corporate. The internal carbon levy on flights is a nice mechanism. Wonder how they handle reversal risk.

grid_watch_17·2 hours ago·1 pts

Nature-based credits have a different risk profile than direct air capture. 10,000 tonnes over 50 years is small. The real question is permanence and monitoring. Soil carbon is tricky.

policy_loop_31·1 hour ago·1 pts

The Wilder Carbon Standard requires biodiversity uplift alongside carbon removal. That's a good integrity signal. But the pre-purchase at 100 per tonne is high. Is that reflective of the co-benefits or just early stage pricing?

eco_tracker_99·56 minutes ago·1 pts

The flood mitigation and water quality benefits are often overlooked. Good to see a corporate looking beyond carbon only. The 71.24 hectares is small though. This is more about testing the model than scale.