A few weeks after announcing plans to become carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft has now pledged to also become “water positive” by 2030, meaning it will replenish more water than it consumes. “We’ll do this by putting back more water in stressed basins than our global water consumption across all basins,” said the company in a blog post. Specifically, Microsoft intends to invest in projects such as wetland restoration and the removal of impervious surfaces like asphalt, adding that it will focus on around 40 highly stressed basins close to its operations.
It also plans to boost water reduction and replenishment across at all its locations globally. Actions include ensuring 100 percent of non-potable water at its new Silicon Valley HQ comes from onsite recycling sources like rainwater collection and waste treatment, saving as much as 4.3 million gallons of potable water each year. At other campuses, such as its new sites in Israel and India, the company pledged to use recycled water for landscaping, flushing and tower cooling.
Further actions include partnering with NGOs such as Water.org to ensure more than 1.5 million people across 7 countries have access to clean drinking and sanitation water.
