- This month of January marks the third anniversary since the company announced its goal of going carbon neutral by 2030 and eliminating all emissions by 2050 since its inception.
- Microsoft has named Melanie Nakagawa as its new Chief Sustainability Officer to further its environmental commitment. With nearly two decades of experience in sustainability in politics, business and technology, he will be key to the development of the company’s plans.
Microsoft recognizes the urgent need to protect ecosystems and reduce carbon emissions around the world. This month of January marks the third anniversary of the company’s announcement of climate goals to become carbon negative by 2030 and eliminate all carbon emissions produced since its founding by 2050.
Microsoft has appointed Melanie Nakada As the new director of sustainability –Chief Sustainability Officer- To continue to forge ahead in our environmental commitment, From this position, the board will lead Microsoft’s strategy to accelerate its plan to reduce and eventually eliminate its carbon footprint. Nakagawa brings to Microsoft nearly two decades of experience in environmental sustainability in politics, business and technology, which will be key to the company’s plan. Prior to joining Microsoft, he served as Special Assistant to the President of the United States and Senior Director for Climate and Energy on the White House National Security Council, leading several national and international climate initiatives, and related energy issues. Others were involved. , such as the international response to the war in Ukraine.
Today, the company is carbon neutral and the commitment to 2030, on the one hand negative in terms of carbon emissions and on the other hand, positive in terms of water, is to offset more than its consumption. By 2025, it expects to ensure that 100% of the energy supply reaching all its operations comes from renewable energy. Another objective is to generate zero waste in direct operations, products and packaging by 2030; And, by 2050, all the carbon the company has emitted since its founding in 1975 has been removed from the atmosphere.
Likewise, Microsoft data centers – such as those that are part of the cloud region that the company will put into operation in Spain – are becoming more and more sustainable. Microsoft has adopted a cutting edge method, placing circular center In each of them: they contribute to the reuse of servers and components up to 90% by the year 2025. As clouds continue to increase, these circular centers will become an important part of meeting our goal of reducing them to 55 by 2030. % of Scope 3 emissions and complete elimination of its carbon footprint by 2050. The initiative makes Microsoft the largest buyer of carbon credits in the world. Through the purchase of renewable energy, the company has reduced its Scope 1 emissions and Scope 2 emissions by 17%. In addition, it is adding new measures to reduce those of Scope 3, which grew 23% over the past year.
Negative carbon emissions, positive water management and zero waste
Microsoft has recently taken initiatives to further its sustainability goals. The company will build a new thermal power center for the Redmond campus and open its fourth and fifth circle centers in Singapore and Chicago to further its goal of zero waste. It is also working for the Silicon Valley delegation to achieve water neutrality certification (Net Zero): it has a rainwater collection system and a wastewater treatment plant that guarantees 100% non-potable water is from recycled sources. comes An integrated water management system manages and reuses rainwater and wastewater. By recycling, the campus saves approximately 16.2 million liters of drinking water each year.
accelerate innovation
Accelerating innovation and providing technology that helps customers and partners achieve their sustainability goals is a priority for Microsoft. Melanie Nakagawa’s team is already working closely with them to offer them the best solutions: updated quarterly Microsoft Cloud for SustainabilityIntegrate new capabilities and expand your ecosystem of environmental data.
With Cloud for Sustainability, Microsoft provides the intelligence and data management capabilities organizations need to respond to these changes with agility and confidence. The company aims to work closely with its customers and partners to streamline the sustainability processes and objectives of organizations, wherever they are on their journey towards sustainability.
Cooperation with organizations, governments and NGOs
Finally, Microsoft is working with governments, companies and non-governmental organizations to advance its global sustainability projects. Among the initiatives Microsoft will support are:
- Expand the use of weather-related data to improve AI, including for the United Nations and in the Global South.
- Promote new laws, policies and regulations on climate, energy and sustainability.
- Build new markets for climate and sustainability solutions through the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund and carbon offset purchases.
- Help develop and support the skills and talent needed for both specialist sustainability roles and existing jobs, which will require an awareness of environmental challenges.
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