Microsoft, Amazon, Google emissions rise 19% as data-center buildout accelerates

The three hyperscalers' combined carbon footprint reached 119 million metric tonnes CO2e in the past year—about a third of France's total—driven primarily by rapid data-center construction needed to support AI infrastructure.

First covered Jul 9, 2026 · 9:00 AM PT · 6 articles · no longer in the live window

Microsoft, Amazon, Google emissions rise 19% as data-center buildout accelerates — Image via wired.com

Coverage

77d Guardian Environment 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 Microsoft, Amazon and Google’s collective carbon emissions…

78d Heatmap News Electricity Isn’t the Only Driver of Big Tech’s Surging Emissions — When I helped start Heatmap News three years ago, I didn’t think I would be writing this much about big tech companies.

78d Wired Science Microsoft Reports a Massive 25 Percent Jump in Emissions — Data centers are driving up the company’s use of electricity—and carbon pollution.

79d Heatmap News Microsoft’s Climate Pollution Surged 25% Last Year — We got a look at another major tech company’s latest energy and carbon emissions data — and it’s a doozy.

79d Trellis Microsoft adjusts climate agenda as emissions leap — The company’s carbon footprint expanded 25 percent in its 2025 fiscal year, surpassing double-digit increases at Amazon and Google.

Primary sources

cdn-dynmedia-1.microsoft.com 2026 Microsoft Environmental Sustainability Report Pdf (cdn-dynmedia-1.microsoft.com)

edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu EDGAR - The Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research

storage.googleapis.com 3E7145E02Ea83F60A9D513194B97251217327521 (storage.googleapis.com)

Related coverage

78d Heatmap News Electricity Isn’t the Only Driver of Big Tech’s Surging Emissions

79d CleanTechnica US Accounted for Nearly 50% of World’s CO2 Emissions Growth in 2025 — Thanks, AI Data Center Explosion

More coverage from around the web

finance.yahoo.com Microsoft’s Emissions Surged 25% in 2025 During Data Center Boom

kuow.org KUOW - Microsoft's climate-warming emissions surge 25%, driven by AI

geekwire.com Microsoft's carbon emissions climb 25% as tech giants grapple with AI’s energy toll – GeekWire

forbes.com Microsoft’s AI Buildout Sent Carbon Emissions Up 25% Last Year

axios.com Microsoft's AI boom collides with its climate goals

Discussion

HN: 12 pts8 comments Hacker News · 76d ago Datacentres drive up big tech's carbon emissions to a third of those of France

Appeared in: 2026-07-10 (#15) · 2026-07-11 (#12) · 2026-07-12 (#9) · 2026-07-13 (#6)

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