Articles about Climate change

The cost of the AI boom: Amazon emissions jump 16% as company stands by net-zero pledge

Amazon’s 2025 sustainability report reveals a 16% carbon emissions spike driven by AI data center expansion, even as the company maintains its 2040 net-zero goals. Read More

Innovation vs. climate change: Introducing ‘Positive Charge,’ a new podcast from GeekWire

Most climate news feels hopeless. Positive Charge, a new podcast from GeekWire, profiles the scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs betting that technology can still tip the balance — starting with episodes on “forever chemicals” and the race for fusion power. Read More

Report: Bill Gates-backed Breakthrough Energy is not pursuing additional funds for a key initiative

Bill Gates-backed Breakthrough Energy, headquartered in Seattle, is not currently pursuing additional capital for Catalyst, its initiative that funds ready-to-scale… Read More

Bill Gates says there’s ‘no upper limit’ on AI, citing opportunity and risk

Bill Gates says there’s “no upper limit” on how intelligent AI systems will become, and warns the world needs to prepare now for the disruptions ahead. Read More

Bill Gates urges world to ‘refocus’ climate goals, pushes back on emissions targets

Less than two weeks ahead of the UN climate conference, Bill Gates posted a memo on his personal blog encouraging folks to just calm down about climate change. Read More

Climate tech companies dominate PNW funding with the three biggest investment rounds in 2025

The three biggest investments so far this year in Pacific Northwest companies have gone to businesses working to decarbonize the… Read More

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s final act: New $3.1B foundation bets big on science and tech

Even in the final years of his life, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen was as excited as ever about what the… Read More

From Army diver to carbon capture: How a Pacific deployment sparked a veteran’s climate mission

[Editor’s note: “Tech Vets: Profiles in Leadership and Innovation,” is a GeekWire series showcasing U.S. military veterans leading companies within the Pacific… Read More

Amazon’s carbon emissions rise 6% amid AI boom

After two years of modest declines, Amazon reported today that its carbon footprint grew by 6% last year. The global… Read More

‘Talent drives everything’: Vinod Khosla’s contrarian take on America’s AI and climate challenges

The biggest threat to America’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence and climate tech isn’t the Trump administration’s cuts to renewable power… Read More

Jeff Bezos picks retired Amazon exec as the new CEO of his $10B Bezos Earth Fund

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has pulled one of his former executives out of retirement to become the president and CEO… Read More

Concrete goes green: UW and Microsoft use seaweed to create novel carbon-trapping cement

Researchers have developed a novel solution for trapping carbon in concrete by blending a sustainable, easy-to-grow green seaweed into the… Read More

Amazon shareholder revolt loses steam

Amazon’s latest shareholder results, released Thursday, show a continued drop in support for major environmental and social proposals. Measures on… Read More

Allen Family Foundation awards $5M to support and study six nature-based carbon removal projects

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced $5 million in grants on Thursday being awarded to six Pacific Northwest efforts… Read More

Tire recycling tech startup with link to Costco lands $40M from former CEO Jim Sinegal and others

Prism Worldwide is likely the swan song for Bob Abramowitz, its CEO and 66-year-old co-founder. The tire recycling company is also… Read More

Climate activism and community-building startup draws tech workers seeking camaraderie

A climate-focused startup fostering community is drawing tech workers who are feeling anxious about the planet’s environmental trajectory and eager… Read More

Philanthropy vet launches startup to help people ‘get smart’ about climate investing and giving

President-elect Donald Trump is proposing fossil fuel champions for U.S. leadership roles. New research shows the world is off the… Read More

Energy demand, stoked by AI and expanding electrification, is outpacing supply

Washington state — a region once blessed with an overabundance of clean, affordable power thanks to its hydroelectric dams —… Read More

Washington state voters reject initiatives that aimed to repeal capital gains tax and climate program

Washington state voters rejected initiatives that would have axed a capital gains tax and a program to reduce carbon emissions.… Read More

Microsoft tries to whittle down its carbon footprint by building data centers with engineered timber

Tech heavyweights are in hot pursuit of clean energy sources to power their data center operations while reining in climate… Read More

Microsoft signs deal with ocean carbon removal project operating on Washington’s coast

Microsoft today announced a deal with a marine carbon removal startup on the northern edge of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula to… Read More

Amazon announces nuclear power deals as tech giants scramble for more clean energy

Amazon today announced agreements supporting the construction of a next-generation nuclear power plant in its home state of Washington —… Read More

Seattle joins other Washington cities in opposing I-2117, a measure to nix state’s climate program

The City of Seattle today approved a resolution opposing Initiative 2117, a measure on next month’s ballot that would eliminate… Read More

Pledge then plan: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says path to carbon net zero is evolving

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy sat down Thursday with Kara Hurst, the company’s chief sustainability officer, to discuss the cloud, retail… Read More

Zillow adds climate risk data to its real estate listings

Real estate listings on Zillow now include details about a property’s climate risks and whether natural disaster insurance is critical… Read More

Amazon aiding Amazon: Tech giant buys carbon credits to help save the rainforest

Seattle-area tech giant Amazon is part of a $180 million deal with at least five other companies to buy carbon… Read More

Microsoft’s carbon footprint keeps growing as AI drives data center expansions

In 2020, Microsoft made an ambitious commitment to make its operations carbon negative within a decade, removing more carbon from… Read More

Antarctic ozone hole visualized through climate data

Climate science mission led by University of Washington wins backing from NASA

NASA has selected four proposals for climate science missions, including an effort led by a University of Washington researcher, to… Read More

Amazon, Microsoft back campaign against initiative that would defund climate efforts in Washington

More than 100 companies, tribal groups, union organizations, environmental nonprofits and political groups are backing a campaign to defeat a… Read More

Bezos Earth Fund launches $100M ‘grand challenge’ for AI solutions to climate change

The Bezos Earth Fund on Tuesday announced the creation of a $100 million grand challenge that’s seeking artificial intelligence-powered solutions… Read More