SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

Microsoft’ s plan for carbon credits The growth of energy-intensive AI and cloud have caused trouble in Microsoft’ s climate commitments. While in 2024 it achieved a 30 % reduction in Scope 1 and emissions from its 2020 baseline, its total emissions grew by 23.4 %. The company is employing a range of approaches to try and tackle this growth, including carbon credits.

In the Southern United States, Microsoft has sealed a long-term agreement with Chestnut Carbon to deliver more than six million tonnes of carbon credits over 25 years. This involves the planting of more than 35 million trees.

Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft, said:“ Microsoft is thrilled to announce that it has entered into a new longterm offtake agreement with Chestnut Carbon, a Kimmeridge company, to purchase high-quality, carbon removal from its afforestation, reforestation, and restoration projects across the southern United States.

“ This is one of – if not the – single largest voluntary corporate investments in conservation forestry in the United States. It will deliver 7 million tons of carbon removal over a 25-year period, restore roughly 60,000 acres of land and plant over 35 million native, biodiverse hardwood and softwood trees.” sustainabilitymag. com 187