Environmental Sustainability

A year of action

We are dedicated to leading a decade of ambition and action. Our ambition is clear, now we’re sharing our actions, results, and lessons learned in our first sustainability report.

View the 2020 report Visit the blog post
Climate Innovation Fund

We are advancing climate solutions through sustainable investments.

Learn more about the fund
Carbon dioxide removal

The Microsoft carbon removal program supports projects in forestry, soil, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, and other emerging solutions.

Learn more about our portfolio

Areas of focus

We focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact, which include carbon, ecosystems, water, and waste across all the work we do.

Carbon Ecosystems Water Waste

Carbon negative by 2030

Microsoft has been carbon neutral across the world since 2012 and commits to being carbon negative by 2030. Our goal is to promote sustainable development and low-carbon business practices globally through our sustainable business practices and cloud-enabled technologies.

Read Brad Smith’s blog (PDF) Watch the announcement

Building a Planetary Computer

Microsoft is building the tools and services to help anyone, anywhere better understand the ecosystem around them today, and monitor and model impacts from climate or human behavior. We are taking responsibility for our land footprint by committing to permanently protect and restore more land than we use by 2025.

Read the blog Watch the webcast

Water positive by 2030

We’re creating and employing tools to help address the world’s water challenges including scarcity, pollution, and ocean health. We’re committed to reducing our consumption and replenishing water in the regions we operate.

Learn about our approach Read the water blog

Zero waste by 2030

We think every device should be made with an emphasis on sustainability and aim to continually improve all of our products. At our facilities, we reduce and eliminate waste by reusing materials, source reduction, and recycling. All waste is treated with environmentally responsible methods.

Learn about our principles Read about our plans

Aerial view of buildings, fields, and trees on a Microsoft campus.

Operations

We’ve stayed carbon neutral since 2012 and we’re actively reducing our footprint by evolving the way we operate. We’re one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy and our Puget Sound campus has been zero waste certified since 2016. Our goal is to minimize our impact and maximize a positive return for the planet.

Learn about our operations

Three Surface Books with bursts of color on their screens, each in a different physical configuration

Products, services, and devices

The investments we make in sustainability carry through to our products, services, and devices. We design our devices, from Surface to Xbox, with an emphasis on eco-friendly materials. Our cloud and AI services help businesses cut energy consumption, reduce physical footprints, and design sustainable products themselves.

Learn about our approach to sustainability

Customers and partners

Using AI, Azure, and Azure IoT Hub, customers can manage their businesses in a way that protects communities, biodiversity, and the planet. We are investing $50 million in AI for Earth to accelerate innovation by putting AI in the hands of those working to directly address sustainability challenges.

Learn about AI for Earth

A woman and two men having a discussion in an office lounge.

Policy

We advocate for policies that reduce humanity’s carbon impact, effectively manage Earth’s ecosystems, advance zero-carbon energy, and increase water access, availability, and quality. We are actively pushing for greater action in the U.S. and across the world.

Signing The Climate Pledge

To meet our ambitious commitments and help partners and customers with their own climate goals, Microsoft is becoming a signatory of The Climate Pledge.

Learn about The Climate Pledge
Transform to Net Zero coalition

This initiative aims to deliver necessary resources to enable meaningful emissions reductions, a transformation to net zero, and economic success.

Learn about the initiative Read about our progress
Doubling down on sustainability

Learn about our raised ambition and sustainability roadmap.

Find out more
AI for Earth

AI for Earth is a Microsoft program that helps people and organizations solve environmental challenges by increasing access to AI tools and education opportunities.

Learn about AI for Earth
Our global impact

Find out how we have invested our carbon fee around the world for sustainable outcomes.

Explore the map