Microsoft has vowed to “do more” to cut down the company’s carbon footprint and its latest initiative is to double its internal carbon fee to $15 per metric ton on all carbon emissions, making its departments accountable for cutting emissions.

It means that each departments’ emissions will be continuously scrutinised and budget must be set aside for the tax. The money raised from this penalty will be re-injected into the company’s carbon neutrality efforts and fund new tech initiatives to boost sustainability.

Some of these funded projects include the development of sustainable campuses and data centres, including its HQs in Washington and Redmond.

“In practice, this means we’ll continue to keep our house in order and improve it, while increasingly addressing sustainability challenges around the globe by engaging our strongest assets as a company – our employees and our technologies,” said Microsoft president Brad Smith.

Microsoft will invest in sustainability data research, analysing information to advise scientists about the state of the planet via schemes such as the AI For Earth Programme.

The Redmond company said it’s going to help its customers build more sustainable futures too, helping them identify how they can be more conscious of the environment and helping them build and reach their own carbon footprint targets.

Finally, the company will push for change. Microsoft announced it’s joined the Climate Leadership Council to help identify and drive forward worldwide initiatives to save our planet.

“Addressing these global environmental challenges is a big task,” Smith added. “Meeting this raised ambition will take the work of everyone across Microsoft, as well as partnerships with our customers, policymakers and organizations around the world. This road map is far from complete, but it’s a first step in our renewed commitment to sustainability.”