Microsoft’s UK partners commit to 2050 net zero target

By Elly Yates-Roberts on 09 March 2022

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The majority (89 per cent) of Microsoft’s UK partners have committed to becoming net zero by 2050, in line with targets set by the UK government.

The finding comes from Microsoft’s latest research – Partnering on the road to net zero – which explores the role of Microsoft’s UK partners in accelerating nationwide response to the climate crisis. The study builds on Microsoft research from 2021 – Accelerating the Journey to Net Zero – A UK Blueprint for Carbon Reduction – which found that most UK businesses are set to miss the government’s target for net-zero carbon emissions.

“This research shows that Microsoft’s UK partners are eager to play their part in the UK’s transition to a greener and more prosperous future,” said Orla McGrath, global partner solutions lead at Microsoft UK. “With their deep expertise in delivering innovative technology and consulting solutions, Microsoft partners are well placed to accelerate both their own journey to net zero and that of their customers.”

According to the new research, 94 per cent of Microsoft partners believe technology will be critical to helping organisations reach net zero and nearly half (44 per cent) reported that their customers are requesting technologies to help them reduce their own environmental impact.

“You need to have sustainability at the core of your business, otherwise you will be outcompeted,” said Darshna Shah, lead data scientist and sustainability strategist at Elastacloud, a Microsoft partner. “You will not be seen favourably by consumers, investors and even competitors.”

Data science and cloud consultancy Elastacloud has created a department to drive its sustainability agenda through customised products and solutions. It has invested in its Sustainability Studio team, which offers training programmes on the basics of climate science and climate artificial intelligence (AI) modelling. Employees can use this in everyday decision-making and client offerings. According to Microsoft, it also helps create products that measure, monitor and assess carbon emissions using AI, allowing clients to measure their performance against environmental, social and governance targets.