“Technology and environmental responsibility must advance together”

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft

The second invests in long-term hydrological resilience, including the restoration of oxbow wetlands across the Midwest that recharge groundwater, reduce flood risk, and enhance habitats for native species. Collectively, these interventions create a dual-accounting model – likened by Microsoft to a household bank account, where withdrawals are operational usage and deposits represent replenishment gains. Projects are evaluated using recognised methods that convert on-the-ground improvements into measurable volumes of water restored to local ecosystems, offering quantifiable assurance to regulators and communities alike.

86 March 2026