Microsoft carbon emissions rose 25 percent in 2025 as AI data centers grow

Microsoft reported a 25 percent increase in carbon emissions in 2025, driven primarily by the expansion of its AI data center infrastructure and a pause in using certain renewable energy certificates.

Microsoft reported a 25 percent jump in carbon emissions in 2025 as it sets out to grow its use of artificial intelligence AI data centers. The emissions increase was “driven primarily by the expansion of our datacenter infrastructure and pausing our use of non-additional, unbundled renewable energy certificates as we prioritize investments that bring net…