Microsoft's carbon emissions rose 25 percent last year

Microsoft's carbon emissions saw a 25 percent increase in 2025, reaching a total of 34 million metric tons, according to the company's 2026 sustainability report. The company reported that this rise occurred "without select interventions" and was primarily driven by the expansion of its data center infrastructure.

Further contributing to the increase was Microsoft's decision in February of the previous year to cease purchasing "non-additional, unbundled renewable energy certificates." These certificates are often criticized for not representing genuine new renewable energy generation.

The company has publicly committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030, a goal that requires removing more carbon emissions from the atmosphere than it produces. This latest report indicates a significant challenge in meeting that ambitious target.

The expansion of data centers is necessary to support the growing demand for cloud services, a core part of Microsoft's business. However, this growth directly conflicts with the company's climate objectives, highlighting the complex trade-offs involved in scaling technology operations sustainably.