Microsoft in drive to erase its entire carbon footprint

Thursday, 23 January 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

WASHINGTON: Microsoft said last week it will be carbon negative by 2030 and has pledged to remove from the environment by 2050 all the carbon the company has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption in its 45-year history.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella

At an event at its Redmond campus, 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.

“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,” said Brad Smith. “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 announced an aggressive program to cut carbon emissions by more than half by 2030, both from direct emissions and its entire supply and value chain. This includes driving down its direct emissions and emissions related to the energy used to near zero by the middle of this decade.

It 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 next year, 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. The company will also use its voice and advocacy to support public policy that will accelerate carbon reduction and removal opportunities.