Microsoft published carbon and electricity policy briefs to accelerate global decarbonization and carbon-free energy amid what Michelle Patron, Microsoft's senior director of global sustainability policy, described as "economic and scientific indicators" that the impacts of climate change are accelerating far quicker than action is being taken.

Public policy will play a crucial role in signaling the economic and social shifts needed to adequately address climate change and build sustainable markets, Patron explained in a blog post. She also credited environmental policy with supporting the connection between "communities and companies in their efforts to achieve their climate pledges" and urged governments to accelerate policy action.

The briefs mirror the hyperscaler's policy priorities and are focused on ways to reach tangible results while maintaining a "flexible rather than one-size-fits-all approach," with an understanding that digital technologies will be paramount to climate change mitigation.

Microsoft's carbon policy brief explains that it supports three core areas of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation: carbon reporting, carbon reduction, and carbon removal.

In terms of corporate carbon disclosure and procurement reporting policies, Microsoft says it supports those that drive consistent and interoperable GHG reporting metrics and push "comprehensive yet flexible" GHG disclosure requirements for corporations.

The brief also noted support for carbon reporting policies that utilize technologies and tools to measure and track GHG emissions and environmental impacts, which is unsurprising considering the cloud provider's own dive into emissions tracking tech.

Microsoft will back carbon reduction policies that support "a broad, outcome-based, multi sector toolkit," decarbonizing electricity grids, and incentivizing fossil fuel-based electricity reduction in historically difficult industries.

The cloud provider's policy brief also voiced support for carbon removal, which rides a difficult balance between being necessary to reach true net-zero global emissions and being an easy avenue for enterprise greenwashing. Microsoft, however, says it only supports carbon removal policies with clear accounting and quality standards that prioritize "durable solutions" while engaging with impacted communities.

The hyperscaler's position on carbon-free electricity is centered on three major pillars: accelerating the renewable energy generation transition, modernizing existing grid infrastructure to support carbon-free energy, and fostering a future of energy equity, Patron explained.

To that point, Microsoft supports public policies that promote a range of zero-carbon energy, along with those that will shift price signals to expand participation in clean energy markets. In addition, the provider noted its support for research and development investments into clean energy technologies that would move grids away from fossil fuel reliance.

As far as grid modernization, Microsoft encourages policies that expedite renewable energy grid interconnections, prioritize transmission planning and siting, and use technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to manage, optimize, maintain, and protect the grid.

To consider decarbonization from a social lens, Patron highlighted Microsoft's intention to support policies that "amplify the voice of impacted communities" and keep electricity costs at an affordable and equitable level.

"Public policy will play a critical role in the global net-zero transition," Patron said. "We view it as both our responsibility and an opportunity to use our voice to support the policies that we believe will have the greatest impact," she said.