Big Tech’s eco-pledges aren’t slowing its pursuit of Big Oil

Employee activism and outside pressure have pushed big tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Google promising to slash their carbon emissions. But there’s another thing these tech giants aren’t cutting: Their growing business ties to the oil and gas industry.

Microsoft and other tech giants have been competing to strike lucrative partnerships with ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP and other energy firms. They’re supplying cloud computing services and artificial intelligence tools that could aid in accelerating the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels.

The deals have been met with internal opposition from environmentally-minded tech workers.

One employee stood up to ask Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about the ethics of the company’s oil and gas contracts at an all-staff meeting in September.

Nadella defended the partnerships.