Microsoft, Google and Amazon data‑centre build‑out spikes carbon emissions

Microsoft, Google and Amazon reported that their collective carbon emissions rose by nearly one‑fifth in the most recent financial year, reaching 119 million metric tonnes of CO₂‑equivalent – about half of France’s annual emissions. Microsoft’s emissions jumped 25 % to roughly 20 million tonnes, Google’s rose 18 % to about 22 million tonnes and Amazon’s increased 16 % to around 81 million tonnes. The surge is linked to the rapid expansion of AI‑focused data centres, which consume more power than many mid‑size cities and drive the construction of new natural‑gas‑fired plants and the extension of coal‑powered facilities.

All three firms still pledge to reach net‑zero or carbon‑negative status (Microsoft by 2030, Google by 2030, Amazon by 2040), but the pace of AI‑driven infrastructure growth is outstripping the deployment of renewable electricity and carbon‑credit purchases. Analysts note that the increased Scope‑3 emissions from hardware, steel, cement and logistics further limit the effectiveness of clean‑energy pledges.

The reports highlight a broader dilemma for the tech sector: AI’s computational demands are creating a substantial new source of carbon emissions even as the companies market their services as climate‑friendly. The situation is prompting calls for more efficient data‑centre designs, better cooling, and greater alignment of AI workloads with low‑carbon energy supply.