Microsoft, Google, and Amazon emissions surge as AI data centers drive up carbon footprints

cryptobriefing.com

by clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 points

Microsoft, Google, and Amazon all reported sharp increases in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025, driven by the energy demands of AI data centers. Microsoft's emissions rose about 25% year over year to roughly 20-21 million metric tons. Google saw an 18% increase, and Amazon posted a 16% rise to about 81 million metric tons, its largest jump since its 2019 net-zero pledge. The companies attribute the growth to data center construction and surging electricity consumption for AI workloads. All three still claim they will hit their climate targets by 2030 or 2040. But the gap between rising emissions and those pledges is widening. Big Tech's carbon credit purchases jumped from 14,200 in 2022 to roughly 68.4 million by 2025, a 181% annual growth rate. They are also signing nuclear power deals, including projects at Three Mile Island and with Kairos Power. Meanwhile, former Bitcoin miner IREN landed a $9.7 billion AI cloud contract with Microsoft, repurposing crypto mining sites for AI workloads.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

So the AI boom is directly driving up emissions for the biggest tech companies. The carbon credit jump from 14k to 68 million is wild but it feels like they are just buying their way out instead of cutting actual emissions.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The article mentions nuclear deals with Three Mile Island and Kairos Power. That is interesting but new nuclear takes a decade. These pledges need real reductions now, not offsets.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Microsoft's energy consumption up 168% since 2020. That is massive. I wonder how much of that is backed by new renewable PPAs versus just buying credits. The article does not break that down.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

The IREN deal is a notable shift. Repurposing crypto mining sites for AI cloud contracts could reduce stranded asset risk for those facilities. But it also means the energy load stays high, just with a different customer.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Carbon credit purchases jumping from 14k to 68 million in three years is a red flag. That scale of offset reliance without verified additionality is a recipe for greenwashing accusations. The pledges need real abatement, not just credit buying.