Microsoft Emissions Rose 25% in 2025 Amid AI Growth

Microsoft's total emissions rose by 25% in 2025, according to its latest sustainability report, a trend attributed primarily to the expansion of its AI data centers and a temporary halt in the use of certain renewable energy certificates. Despite this increase, the company reiterated its commitment to being carbon negative by 2030, a goal that requires removing more carbon emissions than it produces.

However, external analysts project that Microsoft's emissions will continue to surge in the coming years, largely due to its reliance on fossil fuels to power its growing infrastructure. The company's sustainability report did not disclose plans for three upcoming gas power plants, which are projected to have a combined capacity of 4.75 gigawatts and emit over 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. An analysis commissioned by Stand.earth suggests these projects will more than double Microsoft's emissions.

Rachel Kitchin, senior corporate climate campaigner at Stand.earth, criticized the omission of these future projects from the report, stating that it "brushes the truth under the rug." She also highlighted a 20-year fossil fuel deal with Chevron, which she claims undermines Microsoft's renewable energy targets. This situation reflects a broader pattern of increasing emissions and electricity consumption by Microsoft over the past five years.

The company's scope 2 emissions, which encompass pollution from electricity consumption, now constitute 13% of its total carbon footprint, a significant jump from nearly 2% in the previous year, as detailed in the sustainability report. Since 2020, Microsoft's electricity consumption has also seen a continuous rise, underscoring the growing energy demands of its operations, particularly those related to artificial intelligence.