IT giant Microsoft has vowed to remove from the environment by 2050 all the carbon the company has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975.
The measure is the ultimate aim of the US company’s “aggressive plan” to cut carbon emissions announced by chief executive Satya Nadella (pictured, right).
Microsoft aims to reduce its emissions by more than half and remove more carbon than emitted annually by 2030, resulting in net zero emissions.
To help achieve this the company will have renewables power purchase agreements contracted for 100% of carbon emitting electricity consumed by all its data centres, buildings and campuses.
Microsoft will also extend its internal carbon fee from its own direct emissions to those from its supply chains.
The IT company has also launched a $1bn climate innovation fund to accelerate the development of carbon reduction and removal technologies.
“Reducing carbon is where the world needs to go, and we recognize that it’s what our customers and employees are asking us to pursue,” said president Brad Smith (pictured, left).
“This is a bold bet – a moonshot – for Microsoft. And it will need to become a moonshot for the world,” he added.