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Climate & Environment

Microsoft Emissions Rise 27%

WireByte Staff · July 10, 2026

Microsoft's greenhouse gas emissions jumped 27% in its latest fiscal year, reaching 21.1 million metric tons, due to AI infrastructure expansion

Key points

  • Microsoft's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 27% to 21.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025
  • The company's emissions intensity rose to 75.0 mtCO2e per million dollars of revenue, the first increase in at least six years
  • The spike was driven by a tenfold surge in Scope 2 market-based emissions, which ballooned from 259,090 mtCO2e to 2.7 million mtCO2e
  • Microsoft's revenue grew 15% to $281.7 billion, while its emissions per dollar of revenue increased
  • The company attributed the jump partly to its decision to stop purchasing energy attribute certificates and carbon removal credits
  • The increase follows similar reports from Google and Amazon, which showed emissions surging 18% and 16% respectively

Microsoft's latest environmental report reveals a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the expansion of its AI infrastructure. The company's emissions jumped 27% to 21.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. This surge is attributed to a tenfold increase in Scope 2 market-based emissions, which rose from 259,090 mtCO2e to 2.7 million mtCO2e. Microsoft's decision to stop purchasing energy attribute certificates and carbon removal credits also contributed to the increase. The company's revenue grew 15% to $281.7 billion, but its emissions per dollar of revenue increased. This trend is not unique to Microsoft, as Google and Amazon also reported significant increases in emissions, 18% and 16% respectively, due to their own AI infrastructure expansion.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.