February 24: Microsoft’s Unprecedented Climate Commitment

Source: Microsoft
Published: January 2020

Microsoft’s Unprecedented Climate Commitment

Microsoft made an unprecedented commitment to become carbon negative by 2030. The tech giant pledged that its total operations — plus supply chain — will remove more carbon than they emit. By 2050, Microsoft aims to eliminate its entire history of emissions, dating back to 1975, when Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard and cofounded the company with Paul Allen.

Microsoft will enlist the following guiding principles to accomplish this feat:

Principle: Grounding in science and math
Description: Ground our work in the best available science and most accurate math.

Principle: Taking responsibility for our carbon footprint
Description: By 2030 cut emissions by more than half and remove more carbon than we emit each year.

Principle: Investing in new carbon reduction and removal technology
Description: Deploy $1 billion of our own capital in a new Climate Innovation Fund.

Principle: Empowering customers around the world
Description: Develop and deploy digital technology to help our suppliers and customers reduce their carbon footprints.

Principle: Ensuring effective transparency
Description: Publish an annual Environmental Sustainability Report that provides transparency on our progress

Principle: Using our voice on carbon-related public policy issues
Description: Support new public policy initiatives to accelerate carbon reduction and removal opportunities.

Principle: Enlisting our employees
Description: Recognize that our employees are our biggest asset in advancing innovation.

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