Google’s Carbon Emissions Jump by 48% since 2019
In its latest environmental report, Google has revealed that its carbon emissions have soared by 48% since 2019, with a staggering 13% increase in 2024 alone. This significant jump in carbon emissions has sparked concerns about the company’s environmental impact and its commitment to sustainability.
According to Google’s report, the increasing growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has contributed to the demand for more data centers and “supply chain emissions”, which are the primary reasons behind the surge in carbon emissions. The report highlights that data centers now account for a whopping 25% of Google’s total energy consumption.
The report also sheds light on the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Google has set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2025, and has made significant progress in reducing its energy consumption. However, the latest figures suggest that the company still has a long way to go to achieve its sustainability goals.
The jump in carbon emissions is attributed to the rapid growth of Google’s data centers, which are the backbone of the company’s AI and cloud computing operations. As the demand for data storage and processing continues to rise, Google is forced to build more data centers to meet the growing demand.
However, the construction of new data centers comes with significant environmental costs. The report highlights that the production and transportation of equipment for data centers, as well as the energy required to power them, contribute to the company’s carbon emissions.
Google’s environmental report also highlights the company’s efforts to reduce its supply chain emissions. The report notes that Google is working with its suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their sustainability practices.
In addition to reducing its supply chain emissions, Google is also investing in renewable energy to power its data centers. The company has already made significant progress in this area, with over 60% of its energy coming from renewable sources.
However, despite these efforts, Google still faces significant challenges in reducing its carbon emissions. The report highlights that the company’s data centers are not yet fully powered by renewable energy, and that the company still relies heavily on fossil fuels to power its operations.
Google’s environmental report comes at a time when the company is facing growing pressure to prioritize sustainability and reduce its environmental impact. The report highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability, but also raises concerns about the company’s slow progress in reducing its carbon emissions.
In conclusion, Google’s carbon emissions have jumped by 48% since 2019, with a 13% increase in 2024 alone. The increasing growth of AI has led to demand for more data centers and “supply chain emissions”, which are attributed as the major reasons for the jump in carbon emissions. Data centers now represent 25% of Google’s total energy consumption. While Google has made significant progress in reducing its energy consumption, the company still has a long way to go to achieve its sustainability goals.
News Source:
https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/environmental-report-2025/
