Rise in Carbon Emissions Linked to Data Centre Growth
Microsoft’s annual Environmental Sustainability Report reveals a concerning trend: the company’s carbon emissions have spiked by nearly 30% since 2020. While direct emissions and energy usage have decreased marginally, the proliferation of data centres, driven by the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, has significantly contributed to this increase.
Understanding Data Centres and Their Energy Intensity
Data centres serve as the backbone of cloud services, housing powerful hardware and servers essential for storing and processing vast amounts of data. However, their operations are energy-intensive, relying on continuous power and water-intensive cooling systems. The expansion of data centres exacerbates environmental concerns, particularly when situated in drought-prone regions and powered by fossil fuels.
Mitigation Strategies Employed by Microsoft
In response to the environmental impact of its data centres, Microsoft has committed to ambitious sustainability goals. By 2030, the company aims to source 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources. This commitment extends to all aspects of its operations, including delivered goods and services. Microsoft’s recent partnership with Brookfield, securing 10.5 gigawatts of renewable energy, represents one of the largest corporate power purchase agreements to date.
Investments in Carbon Removal and Energy Efficiency
Beyond renewable energy procurement, Microsoft is investing in carbon removal and storage initiatives. Collaborating with entities like Sweden’s Stockholm Exergi, Microsoft aims to remove millions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, marking significant strides in carbon mitigation efforts. Additionally, the company prioritizes enhancing efficiency within its data centres, leveraging AI to drive accountability and technological innovations.
Advocacy and Circular Hardware Initiatives
Microsoft recognizes the importance of advocacy and circular hardware initiatives in achieving sustainability objectives. By leveraging its purchasing power, the company seeks to accelerate demand for greener building materials and energy supplies while advocating for policy reforms conducive to climate action. Furthermore, Microsoft remains committed to advancing circular hardware practices, exemplified by its substantial efforts in server and component reuse and recycling.
SOURCE: Ref Image from The Guardian
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