Microsoft's carbon emissions rose 25% last year as AI growth outpaces sustainability fixes

Microsoft’s carbon emissions went up 25 percent last year

Microsoft's 2026 sustainability report shows 2025 carbon emissions are 25% above its 2020 baseline, driven by data center construction and supply chain. The company admits current sustainability solutions aren't keeping pace with AI demand, making its 2030 carbon-negative goal harder to reach. The report doesn't lay out a concrete catch-up plan.

Why it matters: Hard data from Microsoft's own report: 25% emissions increase, with the company admitting carbon removal can't keep pace with AI expansion. But this is a straight news report without exclusive analysis or new solutions, so it sits at the featured threshold, not p1.