Commercial, Energy Efficiency, Energy Procurement, GHG Emissions  -  January 17, 2020

Microsoft commits to being carbon negative by 2030

Microsoft committed to being carbon negative by 2030 and removing all the carbon it has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption since 1975 before 2050 in a report released Jan. 16.

To achieve this goal, the tech giant claimed it will shift to 100% renewable energy under PPAs that cover all its data centers, building and campuses by 2025, as well as electrifying its global campus operations vehicle fleet by 2030. The company will also be pursuing International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon certification and LEED Platinum certification for its Silicon Valley Campus and Puget Sound Campus Modernization projects.

As part of this initiative, Microsoft will be working with suppliers and customers to reduce carbon emissions throughout the production chain. Additionally, it is investing in a $1 billion climate innovation fund to accelerate the development of carbon reduction, capture and removal technologies, including negative emission technologies (NET) potentially including afforestation and reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCs), and direct air capture (DAC).

Microsoft also expects to emit 16 million metric tons of carbon this year. Of that, 12 million tons fall into Scope 3. To target those emissions, all business divisions will pay an internal carbon fee for all Scope 3 emissions starting this July. This will also extend into incentives to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions moving forward.

All progress made in these endeavors will be reported in a new annual Environmental Sustainability Report. Microsoft also signed the United Nations’ 1.5-degree Business Ambition Pledge.

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