Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude language model, has become the first pure artificial intelligence startup to join Frontier, a carbon removal collective that announced a new $915 million tranche of funding on Tuesday. The pledge brings Frontier’s total commitments to $1.8 billion, nearly doubling its previous fundraising.
Frontier was founded in 2022 by Stripe, Google, and Shopify to help technology companies fulfill their climate pledges. The collective vets carbon removal companies and signs long-term contracts to purchase credits, which member companies use to offset emissions they cannot eliminate directly—such as those from air travel or manufacturing. To date, Frontier has contracted nearly $700 million across more than 50 projects to remove 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide.
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Anthropic’s first climate deal signals shifting priorities
Anthropic’s membership is notable because it represents the first pure AI company to join Frontier’s ranks, while Google was a founding member. The move comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over their energy consumption. Anthropic has not yet published a sustainability report and has previously stated it favors an “all of the above” approach to energy—a phrase that typically includes purchases of power from fossil fuel sources.
Joining Frontier is Anthropic’s first climate-related deal, and it may signal changing attitudes within the company as it navigates the tension between rapid AI deployment and environmental responsibility. The AI industry has been on an energy buying spree, with companies signing deals for nuclear, solar, and natural gas power to fuel data centers.
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Frontier shifts strategy toward larger, longer bets
In its announcement, Frontier said it would fund fewer projects going forward, focusing on those it believes have the best chance of removing one gigaton—1 billion metric tons—of CO2 or more annually. New contracts will run approximately eight to ten years, up from shorter terms in earlier rounds.
The shift mirrors a broader trend in the carbon removal market. Microsoft, the largest buyer of carbon removal credits, has also signaled it wants the market to mature rather than underwrite it indefinitely. Frontier now requires that any new contract recipient “show a path to government subsidy or support,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.
Frontier has backed a range of carbon removal technologies since its launch, including direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, bio-oil, ocean antacids, and bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that carbon dioxide removal technology will be necessary for the world to reach net-zero emissions. Frontier said it will contract as far out as 2040, after which it expects governments to take a larger role in funding the technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frontier and how does it work?
Frontier is a carbon removal collective founded by Stripe, Google, and Shopify. It vets carbon removal companies and signs long-term contracts to purchase credits, which member companies use to offset emissions they cannot eliminate directly.
Why is Anthropic joining Frontier significant?
Anthropic is the first pure AI startup to join Frontier, marking its first climate-related deal. This comes as AI companies face scrutiny over energy consumption and carbon footprints, potentially signaling a shift in industry attitudes.
How much funding has Frontier raised in total?
With the new $915 million tranche, Frontier’s total pledges have reached $1.8 billion. It has contracted nearly $700 million across more than 50 projects to remove 1.8 million tons of carbon.
What changes is Frontier making to its contracting strategy?
Frontier plans to fund fewer projects with higher scrutiny, focusing on those with the best chance of removing at least one gigaton of CO2 annually. New contracts will run eight to ten years, and companies must show a path to government support.
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