American Airlines Teams Up with Bill Gates-Backed Company to Bury 10,000 Tons of CO2 Underground

American Airlines has signed a deal with Graphyte, a startup backed by Bill Gates, to bury 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide underground as part of its efforts to combat climate change. Graphyte's unique carbon casting technology offers a more affordable solution compared to other carbon removal methods, with a cost of $100 per ton. By mummifying plant matter and preventing decomposition, Graphyte can store the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants for up to a thousand years. The deal with American Airlines marks a significant milestone for Graphyte and the emerging carbon removal market, which aims to prove the effectiveness of new projects in permanently trapping CO2. However, carbon removal should be seen as a supplement to reducing pollution at its source through clean energy adoption.