Datacentres drive up carbon emissions of Microsoft, Amazon and Google to a third of those of France
Major tech companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have seen a significant rise in carbon emissions, largely attributed to the infrastructure demands of AI and cloud computing. Critics argue that these companies' sustainability claims are undermined by the environmental impact of their expanding data center footprints.
Why it matters
Highlights the tension between the rapid growth of AI technology and corporate commitments to environmental sustainability.
Inside a Microsoft datacentre. The company’s carbon emissions rose by 25 % over the past year to 20m TCO₂e. Inside a Microsoft datacentre. The company’s carbon emissions rose by 25 % over the past year to 20m TCO₂e. Datacenters Datacentres drive up big tech’s carbon emissions to a third of those of France Microsoft, Amazon and Google say they still aim to achieve net zero output despite construction boom
Prefer the Guardian on Google Microsoft, Amazon and Google’s collective carbon emissions have increased by nearly a fifth in the past year, driven largely by datacentre construction.
In the financial year ending March 2026, the three tech companies emitted 119m mTCO₂e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), or about a third of those of France.
The previous year, they emitted roughly 101m mTCO₂e, roughly equivalent to the 2024 emissions of Czechia.
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