GreenITStrategy.com

Microsoft has released our Climate Change Policy - interesting but short...

"Microsoft recognizes that climate change is a serious challenge that requires a comprehensive and global response from all sectors of society.

To address it, we are committed to measuring, transparently reporting, and reducing the carbon footprint of our own operations. We are also pursuing opportunities with our partners to increase the energy efficiency of computing.

While energy efficiency is important, long-term solutions to climate change will require dramatic innovations to transition the world to a sustainable low-carbon economy while expanding the number of people who have access to electricity substantially. Microsoft believes software will play a key role in enabling this transformation. We are working to apply information technology innovation to help people and businesses around the world address climate change and protect the environment. We are also supporting research efforts on this topic being conducted by leading environmental groups, scientists, and governments around the world.

We see an important role for governments to provide the frameworks that spur the transition to a low-carbon economy, including:

• Direct funding for basic research into renewable and sustainable low-carbon energy sources
• Market-based mechanisms that are stable and predictable over the long-term and incent the private sector to invest in the transition to sustainable low-carbon energy sources and technologies
• Regulatory systems that support innovation and eliminate barriers to the adoption of sustainable low-carbon technologies"