Microsoft's ambitious challenge: it will become carbon negative
Environment — di Lorenzo Brenna
The company has committed to reaching this goal, by reducing and offsetting its own emissions, by 2030.
Microsoft's ambitious challenge: it will become carbon negative
The company has committed to reaching this goal, by reducing and offsetting its own emissions, by 2030.
While Donald Trump has formally withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate, signed in 2015 at Cop 21, many American companies have instead committed to reducing their environmental impact and achieving significant climate targets. Joining them is Microsoft, which recently announced its ambitious goal: to become carbon negative by 2030.
✔️Become carbon negative by 2030
✔️ Remove all historic carbon emissions by 2050
✔️ Work with customers to understand their carbon footprint
Our CEO @satyanadella on our plan: msft.it/6002TkbP6
✔️ Remove all historic carbon emissions by 2050
✔️ Work with customers to understand their carbon footprint
Our CEO @satyanadella on our plan: msft.it/6002TkbP6
Microsoft wants to remove CO2 from the atmosphere
The tech giant will therefore not stop at reducing its own emissions, but aims to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it produces. The term "carbon negative" refers to a process that involves the permanent removal of CO2 from the ecosystem. What's more, Microsoft has raised the bar even further by committing to removing, by 2050, all the CO2 the company has emitted since its founding in 1975.
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Reversing course to save ourselves
"The CO2 in our atmosphere has created a blanket of gas that traps heat and is altering the climate," reads Microsoft's blog. "The planet's temperature has already risen by one degree Celsius. If we don't curb emissions and temperatures continue to rise, science tells us the effects will be catastrophic. We need to reach net zero emissions — this will require an aggressive approach, new technologies that don't yet exist, and innovative public policies. It is an ambitious goal, even a bold one, but science is clear: it is a goal of fundamental importance for every person on the planet and for future generations."
How Microsoft will remove CO2
"Being carbon neutral is no longer enough to meet the needs of the world," said Microsoft president Brad Smith. To achieve its goal and become carbon negative, Microsoft has developed a strategy that includes several initiatives. Among these are reforestation, carbon storage and assistance to suppliers and customers to help them reduce their ecological footprints. The company has also stated that these initiatives will be partly funded through the expansion of its internal carbon tax, in place since 2012, linked to direct emissions such as those generated by air travel.
A fund for climate innovation
Microsoft's strategy includes the creation of a climate innovation fund, which over the next four years will invest one billion dollars to accelerate the development of carbon removal technologies.
The company founded by Bill Gates has also committed to using its own visibility to positively influence climate policy and accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable economy. "The most powerful tool a company has at its disposal to fight climate change is its political influence," said Elizabeth V. Sturcken of the Environmental defense fund, "and we look forward to Microsoft using it."