Microsoft, Amazon and Google Emissions Jump to 119 Million Tons as AI Datacentres Expand
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 11
Microsoft, Amazon and Google Emissions Jump to 119 Million Tons as AI Datacentres Expand
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 11
Summary
119 million mTCO2e — roughly half of France’s annual emissions — was the combined footprint reported by Microsoft, Amazon and Google for the year to March 2026, up from about 101 million a year earlier.
Datacentre construction and AI-driven cloud demand were the main drivers, with Microsoft’s emissions rising 25% to 20 million mTCO2e, Google’s up 18%, and Amazon’s up 16% overall.
The surge marks a reversal from earlier climate progress even as all three companies keep net-zero targets — 2030 for Microsoft and Google, 2040 for Amazon — and Google says its AI tools helped cut 41 million tons elsewhere last year.
AI infrastructure spending is accelerating the pressure: the biggest tech companies are set to spend $765 billion this year, while JLL expects 1,200 new datacentres by 2030 and Uptime says projects announced last year could consume 1.3% of global electricity.
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Overview
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has caused a significant surge in greenhouse gas emissions among major technology companies in 2025 and 2026. This increase is mainly driven by the immense energy demands of new data centers needed for AI development and operations. For example, Google saw a 38 percent leap in emissions due to capital expenditures and the construction of new data centers, while Amazon’s emissions spiked as it scaled up its AI plans. These trends highlight how the race to build AI capabilities is directly linked to rising emissions and growing environmental challenges for the tech industry.