Microsoft carbon emissions surge 25% in 2025, raising climate doubts

Microsoft carbon emissions spike 25% in 2025

According to the company’s 2026 sustainability report, Microsoft carbon emissions rose ↓ 25% last year, reaching ↓ 34 million metric tons. The surge is attributed to rapid growth in data‑center capacity and expanded AI workloads, a claim the firm details in its filing. Analysts note that the increase clashes with the tech giant’s pledge to be carbon negative by 2030, prompting questions about the feasibility of its roadmap.

“We are adjusting our strategy to align with climate commitments,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters.

The report also references lessons learned from the pandemic, which forced many enterprises to accelerate digital transformation, inadvertently inflating energy demand. Stakeholders in the Climate Watch community are watching closely as investors weigh the financial implications of higher emissions on the company’s ESG scores.