collective action towards climate change

OUR MISSION

PROTECTING our planet

We enhance nature-based efforts by protecting Earth’s natural resources and promoting low-emission solutions. We adopt regulatory decarbonizing actions designed to safeguard the environment for future generations.

RESTORING ecosystems

We champion processes that repair and rebuild degraded environmental systems across ecosystems, while helping communities transition toward low-emission pathways and nature-based carbon strategies.

CONSERVING our habitats

We aim to build resilience by reducing the pressures and threats on wild ecosystems. Our mission is to protect species and restore biodiversity through strategic actions.

about us

Parallel South is rooted in the understanding of carbon’s lifecycle—our vision is to design solutions that prevent carbon from re-entering the atmosphere and instead support its deep and permanent removal.

We work alongside African governments, policy advisors, and ministries to implement scalable and adaptable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies aligned with national climate goals (NDCs). Central to this work is transforming agricultural and forestry residues into value—developing biochar and biogas projects that not only reduce emissions but also generate economic opportunities for local communities.

Our solutions range from conventional methods to innovative, nature-based interventions, each tailored to the unique context of the regions we serve. By turning waste into resources, we ensure our climate impact is both practical and enduring.

Our team brings together passionate experts committed to real climate action. Join us in advancing Africa’s transition to a carbon-neutral future.

Meet The co-founders

Our team is made up of passionate, dedicated individuals committed to climate resilience and carbon solutions.

Advisory Council

Technical Experts

Local partner

Mind the Gap: Carbon Dioxide Removal vs. Climate Commitments

This data visualization, sourced from State of CDR, highlights a critical challenge in climate action: the growing gap between proposed levels of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.

Despite increasing global pledges, the chart clearly illustrates that both conventional and novel CDR methods are currently under-delivering compared to what’s required to meet climate goals. Without urgent action to scale up removal technologies and land-based solutions, the gap will only widen — jeopardizing our path to net-zero.

These insights emphasize why our mission at Parallel South focuses on localized, scalable, and equitable CDR solutions tailored to the African continent.

The Problem

Africa generates over 4.5 billion tonnes of biomass residue annually—an enormous resource that often goes untapped.
Instead of being harnessed for productive use, much of this organic waste is mismanaged or destroyed through:

Wildfires – Uncontrolled burning of dry vegetation contributes to air pollution and carbon emissions.
Burning for charcoal – A widespread but inefficient energy source that releases greenhouse gases and accelerates deforestation.
Open-fire cooking – Still common in rural and peri-urban areas, it leads to indoor air pollution, health risks, and fuelwood depletion.
Excessive composting – Without proper management, large-scale composting can generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and fails to capture the true value of the biomass.

This cycle results in significant environmental degradation, lost energy potential, and a rise in carbon and methane emissions—all of which worsen the climate crisis and limit the socio-economic benefits that could arise from sustainable biomass use.

Our Solution-Biochar

At Parallel South, we transform organic & agricultural waste into biochar—a carbon-rich, soil-enhancing material produced by heating organic biomass in a low-oxygen environment. This method not only prevents harmful emissions caused by burning or decomposing waste, but also locks carbon away for hundreds of years.

Biochar plays a critical role in:

Enriching soil and improving moisture and nutrient retention
Reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers, lowering costs and soil degradation
Capturing carbon and reducing methane emissions often released through unmanaged composting

We work directly with farmers and local communities to collect underutilized biomass such as water hyacinth, saw dust, shea cakes, orchard prunings, and invasive wood species. Instead of becoming pollutants, these materials become a regenerative tool—revitalizing soil, boosting yields, and contributing to climate resilience.

By closing the loop on waste, our work supports circular economies, improves livelihoods, and creates new value from what was once discarded

THE SCIENCE BEHIND

We shun one-size-fits-all approaches. Our holistic solutions are rooted in locally available resources — including soil, plant life, climate, topography, and weather systems. We are highly mindful of, and attuned to, the ecological context of the environments we serve.

The global collective efforts toward carbon dioxide removal (CDR) are often limited by emissions. At Parallel South, significant scaling-up is required to make a substantial impact.

We are looking for people, organizations, and governments to collaborate with us on this mission.
Get in touch — we are building large-scale impacts for generations to come.

be part of the change

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

The climate crisis is urgent. The solutions are complex. But together, we can act — boldly, intentionally, and with purpose.

Whether you’re a policymaker, researcher, community advocate, or simply someone who cares deeply about our planet’s future — there’s a place for you here.