Musk Funded the Carbon-Removal XPrize but Is Now Slashing Climate Research

image via New Scientist

April 23, 2025, 5:45 PM

• •Elon Musk funded an XPrize for carbon removal but has since shifted away from supporting climate initiatives.
• •The Trump administration, with Musk's influence, is cutting climate research funding.
• •The XPrize competition resulted in significant advancements in carbon removal technologies.

Elon Musk, once hailed as an environmental champion, funded an XPrize competition for carbon removal technologies but is now associated with the Trump administration's efforts to slash climate research funding. The competition culminated in Mati Carbon winning the grand prize for their work with crushed rocks and farmers to remove carbon dioxide, although Musk is no longer fully supporting this cause. Experts express concerns that Musk's influence and the funding cuts overshadow the benefits of the XPrize, potentially hindering progress in the carbon removal industry.

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