Microsoft, Amazon, and Google's Carbon Emissions Surge 20% as AI Datacentre Construction Accelerates

The three tech giants collectively emitted 119 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the fiscal year ending March 2026, representing roughly a third of France's annual emissions and a nearly 20% increase year-over-year, driven primarily by rapid datacentre expansion for AI infrastructure. Despite the dramatic rise, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google maintain public commitments to achieving net-zero emissions, raising questions about the sustainability of their growth strategies.

Why it matters: As AI infrastructure demands explode, the carbon footprint of major tech companies has become a critical concern for investors, policymakers, and the industry's climate credibility—especially as these firms race to build the datacentres powering generative AI.