Microsoft latest report shows 25% emissions raised due to AI data centers
8 hours ago
- #AI Datacenters
- #Microsoft
- #Carbon Emissions
- Microsoft's carbon emissions increased by 25% year-over-year, driven by AI datacenter expansion and ceasing purchases of unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs).
- The reported emissions for the last year are 20 million metric tons, not the 34 million mistakenly circulated; the company uses a chart showing actual vs. estimated emissions to highlight reduction efforts.
- Microsoft stopped buying unbundled RECs, which it implies are less effective for long-term environmental impact, and is refocusing funds on higher-impact investments to become carbon negative by 2030.
- The sustainability report also details Microsoft's water usage, noting it replenished more water than it withdrew, and emphasizes the complexity of its environmental progress and challenges.