Paul Burgers is the founder the social enterprise CO2 Operate BV in 2009. With CO₂ Operate BV he runs a large carbon and ecosystem restoration program in Sumatra, known as the Gula Gula Food Forest Program. These food forests (or agroforests) combine carbon off setting for private sector clients with biodiversity enhancement, while the local population can harvest food forest products, which are imported by CO₂ Operate BV into the EU market.

In his previous life, he has worked as seconded staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, with the World Agroforestry Centre in Southern Africa and South East Asia from 1995-2004. After obtaining his PhD at Utrecht University in 2004, he worked as research staff/lecturer at the Faculty of Geosciences University of Utrecht and Wageningen University, where he managed several research projects in Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos.