# Microsoft's Emissions Rose 25% Last Year AI data centers are driving emissions up. - **Source:** [Fast Company](https://www.fastcompany.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-14 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/697ae5ab-13a5-480b-85dc-bd99d2c2df6d ## Tech Giant and Emissions According to Microsoft's latest sustainability report, the company's total emissions increased by 25% in 2025. This rise is linked to tech giants rapidly expanding their AI data centers. ## Impact of AI Data Centers AI data centers consume vast amounts of energy, leading to increased carbon emissions. Microsoft's investments in this area are seen as a primary cause of the emission rise. ## Industry-Wide Trend Microsoft's emission increase reflects a broader trend in the tech industry. Other tech giants are similarly raising their emissions due to AI data centers. ## Environmental Impacts The environmental impacts of AI data centers go beyond emission increases. Energy consumption and waste management are also significant environmental concerns. ## Future Projections Experts predict that Microsoft's emissions will continue to rise in the coming years. The expansion of AI data centers will be the primary driver of this increase. ## Sustainability Efforts Microsoft plans to ramp up sustainability efforts to reduce emission increases. However, the expansion of AI data centers may complicate these efforts. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.fastcompany.com/91573381/microsoft-emissions-rise-ai-data-center-boom-experts-get-worse — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._