Microsoft's data center growth increased carbon emissions

Microsoft's carbon emissions have increased due to the rapid expansion of its data centers, jeopardizing its 2030 carbon reduction goals, according to a recent sustainability report. The report reveals a 23.4% rise in Microsoft's carbon emissions since 2020, primarily from data center construction using carbon-intensive materials like steel and concrete. Scope 3 emissions, encompassing materials and services, account for over 97% of the company's carbon footprint. Despite investments in renewable energy and carbon removal, Microsoft faces challenges in decarbonizing its operations, particularly with the growing demand from its AI and cloud businesses, making its sustainability targets more difficult to achieve.