NTT Data, a major data center operator, has signed an exclusive carbon removal deal with Swiss startup Climeworks to help meet its climate goals. The deal could provide a few hundred thousand tons over a decade, although it is small compared to the larger reductions needed to avoid climate change. The partnership could signal a trend within the AI industry, as carbon removal technology doesn't need to be built alongside a data center project to be purchased as an offset. Climeworks co-CEO Christoph Gebald said the deal could help offset additional emissions by 2040. NTT Data's CEO, David Costa, stated that clients are seeking sustainability strategies grounded in real data. However, no major companies have stepped in to fill the void left by Microsoft's decision to halt its carbon removal purchases.