Brad Smith explains why the world needs to go carbon-negative -- and how to get there

This week, Microsoft President and vice chair Brad Smith is heading to Egypt for the United Nation's annual climate conference with a mission: show the world that the tech giant is "consistent and committed" in its climate goals, as well as communicate the "vital role" that the tech industry as a whole has to play in battling the climate crisis. The Microsoft leader has been busy in recent months since the departure of chief environmental officer Lucas Joppa, stepping in to lead the company's climate initiatives (something Smith has always been intimately involved with, as Joppa's boss prior to his departure). Last week at the Web Summit tech conference, he spoke about the urgency of the workforce transformation the world needs to reach net zero, as well as the current skills gap. "The key to the future is going to be a new generation of people with a new generation of technology coming from a new generation of companies," he said, highlighting the work of startups like the India-based SEEDS, which is using satellite data and AI to identify homes that would be most susceptible to extreme heat, then helping them adapt. Using AI and data to help the Global South adapt to climate change is one of Microsoft's main focuses going into the COP27 climate talks.