Ultra-wealthy investors worldwide are increasingly acquiring forests and farmland, driven by the rising value of carbon credits. From Bill Gates owning over 242,000 acres of U.S. farmland to a Swedish billionaire purchasing 400,000 acres of the Amazon, the trend reflects a shift toward "natural capital" investments that promise both environmental impact and financial return.
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Carbon credits, seen as the "next gold," are projected to grow from a $479 billion market in 2023 to $4.7 trillion within 5–7 years, as corporations seek to offset emissions and meet sustainability targets. Ownership of forests and farmland that generate premium carbon credits offers significant monetisation opportunities through emission reductions.
However, this rush raises ethical questions about private control over vast tracts of land. Critics argue that genuine conservation might be better served by rehabilitating degraded areas rather than buying already rich ecosystems. While presented as environmental philanthropy, much of the investment appears strategically financial, targeting one of the fastest-growing asset classes of the green economy.
Source: www.globalwood.org
