Microsoft recently announced a strategy to reduce its carbon footprint, with the goal to be carbon negative by 2030.
Microsoft will also remove all the carbon the company has emitted into the atmosphere either directly or by electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975, by 2050.
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, Satya Nadella; President, Brad Smith; Chief Financial Officer, Amy Hood; and Chief Environmental Officer, Lucas Joppa, announced the company’s new goals and a detailed plan to become carbon negative.
Mr Smith said, “While the world will need to reach net zero, those of us who can afford to move faster and go further should do so. That’s why today we are announcing an ambitious goal and a new plan to reduce and ultimately remove Microsoft’s carbon footprint.
“By 2030, Microsoft will be carbon negative and by 2050, Microsoft will remove from the environment all the carbon the company has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975.”
The company also announced a new initiative to use Microsoft technology to help its suppliers and customers around the world reduce their own carbon footprints, and a new $1 billion climate innovation fund to accelerate the global development of carbon reduction, capture and removal technologies.
Beginning in 2021, the company will also make carbon reduction an explicit aspect of its procurement processes for its supply chain.
A new annual Environmental Sustainability Report will detail Microsoft’s carbon impact and reduction journey, and the company has committed to using its voice and advocacy to support public policy that will accelerate carbon reduction and removal opportunities.
More information can be found at the Microsoft microsite here or at the Microsoft blog here.
