Microsoft’s emissions surged 25% in 2025 during data center boom

Microsoft Corp. said its carbon emissions climbed 25% in 2025, making it the latest technology company to report a setback in its efforts to erase emissions amid heavy spending on artificial intelligence data centers. 

The company emitted 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, up from 16 million metric tons the prior year, Microsoft said Thursday in its annual sustainability report. The increase was driven by new construction of data centers and a previously announced pause in the purchase of some renewable energy credits, Microsoft said. 

“While AI infrastructure is driving demand for energy, water, land and materials, sustainability solutions are not scaling fast enough to meet demand,” Microsoft President Brad Smith and Chief Sustainability........

© Fortune