Microsoft’s Carbon Footprint Soared by 25% in the Past Year

Microsoft is encountering difficulties in achieving its climate objectives, as indicated by its 2026 sustainability report. According to GeekWire, the report reveals a 25 percent increase in Microsoft’s carbon emissions in 2025, reaching 34 million metric tons “without select interventions.” The company attributes this rise primarily to the expansion of its datacenter infrastructure and its decision to discontinue the purchase of “non-additional, unbundled renewable energy certificates” last February.

Several years ago, Microsoft committed to achieving carbon negativity by 2030, necessitating the removal of more carbon emissions than it generates. This setback is not the first of its kind for Microsoft, as its 2024 sustainability report also documented a similar increase in climate pollution. The latest report acknowledges that the demand for energy, water, land, and materials driven by AI infrastructure is outpacing the scalability of sustainability solutions.