Microsoft makes big climate pledge

Company vows to be ‘carbon-negative’ by ’30, including supply chain.

Microsoft is pledging to become 100% “carbon-negative” by 2030 by removing more carbon from the environment than it emits.

CEO Satya Nadella said Thursday the commitment will happen “not just across our direct emissions, but across our supply chain, too.”

It’s a major step up from Microsoft’s previous green pledges. The tech company had previously said its data centers would be 60% powered by renewable electricity by the end of last year, but environmental groups have said it has fallen short of such rivals as Google and Apple by relying too much on purchasing renewable energy credits to make up for its carbon emissions.

“Microsoft has really been in the middle of the pack,” said Elizabeth Jardim, senior corporate campaigner for Greenpeace USA. “Not an ‘A’ student but clearly not doing nothing.”

Microsoft had previously set an interim goal of 70% renewable energy by 2023. Google and Apple have already said they reached the 100% milestone. Now, however, Microsoft executives say their credit-buying approach is not enough.

Microsoft is responsible for 16 million metric tons of emissions per year, said Brad Smith, the company’s president and chief legal officer.

“When it comes to carbon, neutrality is not enough,” Smith said. “We have to get ourselves to net zero.”

The pledge to include supply chain emissions follows a similar move by Apple.