Microsoft promises to be carbon negative by 2030

Microsoft has promised that by 2030 it will be carbon negative, and by 2050 it will have removed all the carbon it has emitted since its founding in 1975.
To become negative, the company will have to not just reduce its carbon emissions and shift to renewable resources, but actually offset its carbon footprint.
The challenge ahead
With the science behind anthropocentric climate change settled, customers and companies face increasing pressure to reduce emissions.
There are three commonly classified categories of emission: Scope 1, those directly from a person or company's activities; Scope 2, those indirectly created by the production of the electricity or heat used; and Scope 3, those indirectly created by all other activities (such as food production, or manufacturing of goods used).
For 2020, Microsoft - currently worth $1.27 trillion - expects to emit 100,000 metric tons of Scope 1 carbon, four million tons of Scope 2 carbon, and 12m tons of Scope 3.
"Historically we’ve focused on Microsoft’s scope 1 and 2 emissions, but other than employee travel, we haven’t calculated as thoroughly our scope 3 emissions," company president Brad Smith said in a blog post.
"That’s why we’re committing to becoming carbon negative for 2030 for all three scopes."
By the middle of the decade, Microsoft expects to bring Scope 1 and 2 emissions to "near zero" by shifting to 100 percent renewable energy supply via power purchase agreements for the electricity consumed by its data centers, buildings, and campuses. It will electrify its global campus operations vehicle fleet by 2030, and "pursue" International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon certification and LEED Platinum certification for our Silicon Valley Campus and Puget Sound Campus Modernization projects.
It will aim to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by more than half by phasing in an internal carbon tax from July 2020. The fee will start at $15/metric ton, covering Scopes 1 and 2 and Scope 3 travel emissions. "Our fee is paid by each division in our business based on its carbon emissions, and the funds are used to pay for sustainability improvements," Smith said.
All other Scope 3 emissions will be charged via a lower, undisclosed, carbon fee - which will eventually rise to the same level.
By July 2021, the company plans to implement a procurement process that incentivizes emissions reductions among suppliers, and encourages accurate reporting.
By 2030, Microsoft will then start using negative emission technologies "potentially including afforestation and reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCs), and direct air capture (DAC)," Smith said. The company expects to first focus on nature-based solutions, but shift to technology-based ones if and when they improve.
To help those technologies develop, Microsoft plans to invest $1 billion over the next four years "into new technologies and expand access to capital around the world to people working to solve this problem," Smith said. "We understand that this is just a fraction of the investment needed, but our hope is that it spurs more governments and companies to invest in new ways as well."
He added: "We’ll focus our funding on investments primarily based on four criteria: (1) strategies that have the prospect of driving meaningful decarbonization, climate resilience, or other sustainability impact; (2) additional market impact in accelerating current and potential solutions; (3) relevance to Microsoft by creating technologies we can use to address our unpaid climate debt and future emissions; and (4) consideration of climate equity, including for developing economies."
Not to be negative
"While there is a lot to celebrate in Microsoft's announcement, a gaping hole remains unaddressed," Greenpeace senior campaigner Elizabeth Jardim. "Microsoft's expanding efforts to help fossil fuel companies drill more oil and gas with machine-learning and other AI technologies."
Along with the other major cloud providers, Microsoft continues to pursue lucrative contracts with fossil fuel companies, with an Azure division dedicated to the sector.
In the customer stories section of its website, among those featured are BP, Shell, Eni, Petrofac, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Oilfield Solutions, and Volga Gas.
"Visualize reservoir simulations to increase drilling hit rates using high-performance computing (HPC)," Microsoft's 'Azure for the energy industry' page states. "Improve decision-making and reservoir production using IoT drilling sensors and advanced analytics," it adds.
source datacenterdynamics
Industry: Cloud Computing

Latest Jobs
-
- Identity Channel Partner Manager | London
- London
- N/A
-
Identity Channel Partner Manager | London Location: South East UK (commutable to London) We are working with a Cyber Security business who are looking for a Channel Partner Manager to drive and grow relationships across their identity ecosystem. Prior experience working within VARs, distributors, vendors or resellers in the identity space is essential. You must have experience working with technologies such as CyberArk, Sailpoint, Okta etc Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: Build, maintain and develop strong relationships with channel partners. Work closely with partner sales teams to support growth drive sales opportunities. Identify and onboard new partners while strengthening existing partnerships. Act as the key point of contact for all channel-related activity. If you are an experienced channel professional, with experience in the Identity space and are ready for your next challenge, apply today.
-
- Service Architect- DACH regions
- Germany
- Upto €110,000 plus bonus and benefits
-
Lead Service Architect with the authority and experience to take control of complex, multi-million-euro outsourcing bids. This role is about leading the Service/ solutioning effort, bringing structure to chaos, and driving the entire bid team to deliver winning proposals. The company area a global managed services business working with enterprise and public sector clients, across Cloud, End-User Computing, Digital Workplace, Service Desk, and Network Infrastructure. What You’ll Do: Lead Service/ solution design from qualification to contract. Control bid teams — architects, pricing, delivery, and SMEs. Break down RFPs/RFIs into actionable, costed, client-ready solutions. Present internally and to clients at decision-maker level. Run solution workshops, own the architecture, and shape the financial model. You’ll Need: Experience working as a Service architect, Service Manager or Customer Success Manager R Gravitas to lead and drive teams through high-stakes bids. Deep knowledge of managed services delivery and commercial models. Strong technical grasp: Cloud, Security, EUC, Unified Comms, Service Desk, and more. Experience leading deals across onshore, offshore, and hybrid delivery models.
-
- Deal Architect- DACH region
- Germany
- Upto €110,000 plus bonus and benefits
-
Lead Deal Architect with the authority and experience to take control of complex, multi-million-euro outsourcing bids. This role is about leading the solutioning/ Service effort, bringing structure to chaos, and driving the entire bid team to deliver winning proposals. The company is a global managed services business providing solutions to enterprise and public sector clients, across Cloud, End-User Computing, Digital Workplace, Service Desk, and Network Infrastructure. What You’ll Do: Lead the deal from qualification to contract. Control bid teams — architects, pricing, delivery, and SMEs. Break down RFPs/RFIs into actionable, costed, client-ready solutions. Present internally and to clients at decision-maker level. Run solution workshops, own the architecture, and shape the financial model. Be responsible for the service Wrap and ensuring the Service meets clients requirements You’ll Need: A back ground with IT Services Experience in a similar type of role, for example: Deal, Service, or Solution Architect in ICT outsourcing. Gravitas to lead and drive teams through high-stakes bids. Deep knowledge of managed services delivery and commercial models. Strong technical knowledge: Cloud, Security, EUC, Unified Comms, Service Desk, and more. Experience leading deals across onshore, offshore, and hybrid delivery models.
-
- Pre Sales Lead- IT Services
- Germany
- Upto €100,000 plus benefits
-
As the Pre-Sales Lead (Sales Engineer/ Solution Architect) you will drive large-scale ICT managed services and outsourcing deals (from €0.5M to €20M+). You'll work directly with Business Development and clients to design high-impact solutions across Cloud (Azure, IaaS, SaaS, PaaS), EUC, Unified Comms, Security (SIEM, PAM), Networks, and Smart Workplaces. What You’ll Do: Lead the end-to-end pre-sales cycle — from RFI/RFP to contract. Design innovative, client-specific solutions with technical & commercial impact. Present at CxO level and steer proposal strategies & financial models. Collaborate closely with Portfolio, Service Desk, Field, and Digital Workplace teams. Support deal shaping with strong knowledge of ITIL, SIAM, Automation, and cost analysis. What You’ll Bring: Have strong experience in pre-sales or solution architecture. Experience with €M+ managed service deals. Deep technical expertise in modern ICT stack and enterprise IT services. Strong German (C1) and English communication skills. Certifications: ITIL v3/v4 required; SIAM, ISO20000 desirable.