Google’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increased by 48% Since 2019, Thanks to AI Pursuits
How much did Google's emissions increase in 2023?
Google's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 13% in 2023 compared to the previous year, primarily due to higher data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions driven by artificial intelligence workloads5. The company produced 14.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions last year.
What caused Google's emissions to rise in 2023?
Google's emissions rose in 2023 primarily due to the expansion of its data centers to support AI developments, leading to increased energy consumption and supply chain emissions6. The company produced 14.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2023, a 48% increase over 2019 and a 13% increase since 2022.
What is Google's target year for reaching net-zero emissions?
Google's target year for reaching net-zero emissions is 2030. The company aims to reduce 50% of its combined Scope 1, 2 (market-based), and 3 absolute emissions (compared to its 2019 base year) by this date3. It also plans to invest in nature-based and technology-based carbon removal solutions to neutralize its remaining emissions3.