We’re challenging the use of technology to prolong the era of fossil fuels
Big Tech is enabling the Fossil Fuel industry
Advanced technologies help cut costs and boost yields by up to 15%, “expand production,” “generate new exploration opportunities,” accelerate “extracted and refined” hydrocarbons, and make “the future of oil and gas exploration and production brighter than ever.”
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Tech Giants - Microsoft, Google and Amazon help big oil profit from climate destruction despite the biggest public commitments
— Greenpeace, Oil in the Cloud (2020) -
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Microsoft Azure is “at the heart” of unlocking new fossil fuel reserves, optimizing production, and reducing costs
— Microsoft engineer, LinkedIn (2023) -
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One deal with ExxonMobil to accelerate production increases global emissions by 300% of Microsoft’s 2021 carbon removal.
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XTO Energy depends on Microsoft Azure to maximize oil extraction across thousands of new wells and build dozens of new facilities
- President of XTO Energy, ExxonMobil Subsidiary, Microsoft 2021 -
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Big Tech Helps Big Oil Pump More, Belying Climate Pledges by helping prolong the fossil-fuel age.
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AI is revitalizing the fossil fuels industry, and big tech has nothing to say for itself
- Brian Merchant, Blood in the Machine -
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Halliburton and Microsoft collaborate for more efficient oil and gas production, bringing more fossil fuels to market
- CVP of Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 2017 -
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Amazon Web Services (AWS) is helping oil and gas companies to enhance exploration and increase production
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Google greenwashes partnership with Saudi Aramco, continuing to improve oil and gas extraction
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Chevron is leveraging Microsoft’s AI to improve extraction rates, increasing fossil fuels produced
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BP’s move to AWS’s cloud boosts oil production efficiency while claiming to support sustainability
— VICE -
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Big Tech is forging a lucrative partnership with Big Oil, building a new carbon cloud that just might kill us all.
— Former Microsoft Engineer (LogicMag)
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Heeding the digital call to action in oil and gas with a new digital strategy transforms a national oil company’s operations
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Google Halts building custom AI or machine learning tools for oil extraction
— Forbes -
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Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace Campaign for a Breakup Between Big Tech and Big Oil (2020)
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Amazon Web Services (AWS) could be making $9.6 billion annually from the oil and gas industry alone — about 10% of AWS revenue.
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Google, Microsoft, and Big Tech Are Automating Oil companies and fueling the Climate Crisis
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Global AI software spending in the oil and gas market is forecast to increase 24.3% in 2024 to $1.5 billion and reach $2.9 billion by 2027
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![Applying AI in oil and gas]()
92% of oil and gas companies are either currently investing in AI or plan to in the next two years.
ENABLED EMISSIONS
Fossil fuel companies rely on AI, IoT, and cloud computing as a “game changer” to stay competitive in the era of cheap renewable energy.
This drives massive enabled emissions—additional emissions resulting from increased fossil fuel production only made possible by advanced tech.
Datacenter impacts are only the tip of the iceberg
The use of AI overshadows the direct impacts of AI operations. Two projects alone - of many - enable emissions equal to 334% of Microsoft’s entire FY23 carbon footprint - including its data centers. This starkly contrasts with the sustainability pledges of hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
We’re pushing to truly align technology use with climate science
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Advocating
Pushing for smart policies, market design, governance, and incentives
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Educating
Exposing gaps in carbon accounting, regulations, and sustainability claims
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Mobilizing
Uniting stakeholders to amplify demands for accountability and climate action.
Our work
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Microsoft employees spent years fighting the tech giant’s oil ties
Inside the worker-led effort to get the world's most valuable company to stop helping the oil and gas industry drill.
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Microsoft’s Hypocrisy on AI
Can artificial intelligence really enrich fossil-fuel companies and fight climate change at the same time? The tech giant says yes. -
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I loved my job at Microsoft, but resigned on principle. Here’s why
Microsoft sustainability leader resigns, alleging the company aids fossil fuel expansion while touting climate goals.
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We're wrong about AI
An untold story of broken promises, hard truths, and corporate hypocrisy at the intersection of AI, climate, and ethics. -
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Microsoft Shareholder Resolution AGM Presentation
Will Alpine urges Microsoft’s board to evaluate and report on the risks of advanced technology to support fossil fuel expansion.
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Microsoft's Energy Principles
Internal advocacy led to the release of Microsoft’s Energy Principles - an important first step - despite significant loopholes. -
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The Microsoft Azure Dilemma w/ Will & Holly Alpine
Will Alpine & Holly Alpine share their advocacy story around the ethical challenges of enabling fossil fuel production.
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Report on the Risks of Producing AI Technology for Fossil Fuels
Shareholders call for Microsoft to report on risks of using advanced technology to support fossil fuel expansion. -
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Net0++: Microsoft's greenwashing w/ Holly Alpine
Computer Says Maybe podcast featuring Holly Alpine, discussing the topic of enabled emissions.
Our Allies
OUR STORY
We are leaders in AI, ethics, energy, and sustainability, with decades of experience in tech + climate. Our advocacy led to Microsoft’s Energy Principles—an initial policy step, despite gaps. In 2024, we left to push for external accountability and systemic climate action.
Our team
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Holly is a recognized sustainability leader with a decade of experience at Microsoft, where she founded and led both the company's global Community Environmental Sustainability program as well as the Employee Engagement program, supporting 10,000 employees across 36 global chapters. Holly is on the Board of Directors for American Forests and Zero Waste Washington and is an active plant-based mountain athlete.
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Will is an AI product management leader working at the intersection of technology, policy, and climate. At Microsoft, he led the development of Responsible AI platform features, co-founded Green Software Engineering initiatives like the open-source Carbon Aware SDK, and co-authored Microsoft’s Accelerating Sustainability with AI playbook.Outside of work, he finds inspiration in nature, exploring the rugged landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
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Drew works for Planet Earth but provides consulting services for employee engagement through the Climate Leadership Collective, helping organizations make sustainability part of everybody's job. He is a founding member of the Enabled Emissions campaign.
"Holly and Will Alpine are innovative, fearless leaders driving meaningful change in the fight for a sustainable future. Through the enabled emissions campaign, they’ve spotlighted the critical – and largely unaddressed – role of advanced technologies in enabling fossil fuel production, holding tech companies accountable in ways few others are. Their bold vision, strategic approach, and unwavering commitment set a powerful example for the climate movement and inspire action toward a more just and sustainable world.”
-Bill Weihl, Founder and Chief Strategic Advisor at ClimateVoice, Former Director of Sustainability at Facebook & Google
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