Microsoft has said that its ‘journey towards being carbon negative is a marathon, not a sprint’, as it confirmed that total emissions across its operations have risen by 23.4% compared to its 2020 baseline.
The increase in emissions was driven by AI and cloud expansion, the tech giant said, adding that it was ‘encouraged’ that the increase was kept at a moderate level, given the 168% increase in energy use over the same period.
Scope 1 and 2 emissions have decreased 29.9% since 2020, the company added, reflecting the group’s ‘overall carbon emissions reduction efforts’, however Scope 3 emissions increased by 26%, prompting the firm to ‘prioritise’ addressing this through its supplier engagement programmes.
2030 commitments
Microsoft revealed its emissions figure in its 2025 Environmental Sustainability Report, where it revealed the progress it has made toward its 2030 commitments to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste, while protecting ecosystems.
In terms of its waste reduction efforts, Microsoft diverted 85% of construction waste, surpassing targets six years early, and achieving over 90% reuse/recycling of server components. Its water stewardship efforts saw the company provide clean water access to over 1.5 million people and launch zero-water data centre cooling systems.
In addition, in 2024, Microsoft added 19 GW of new renewable energy through power purchase agreements. To date, the firm has contracted 34 gigawatts (GW) of carbon-free electricity (CFE) across 24 countries, which is an eighteenfold increase since 2020.
In line with its supplier code of conduct, select large-scale Microsoft suppliers will be ‘required to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity for their delivered goods and services as well as forthcoming guidance, launching in July, to target usage of sustainable aviation fuel, where possible, for Microsoft business-related air travel by 2030’, the company said.
Read more: Environmental impact of data centre cooling explored in Microsoft study
‘A more sustainable future’
‘There is no issue today that connects everyone on the planet more than climate change,’ Microsoft said in its report. ‘As we strive to build a more sustainable future, we remain inspired by the dedication of our employees and partners and committed to transparency, accountability, and collaboration.
‘While the road to a sustainable future is challenging and not linear, we are encouraged by the progress we have made in FY24. By strategically focusing on CFE, carbon removal, water stewardship, waste reduction, and ecosystem protection, we are building an efficient, sustainable engine that drives us closer to our commitments.’ Read more here.
