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On Wed, 17 Jul, 4:02 PM UTC
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Google, Amazon and the problem with Big Tech's climate claims
Last week, Amazon trumpeted that it had purchased enough clean electricity to cover the energy demands of all the offices, data centers, grocery stores, and warehouses across its global operations, seven years ahead of its sustainability target. That news closely followed Google's acknowledgment that the soaring energy demands of its AI operations helped ratchet up its corporate emissions by 13% last year -- and that it had backed away from claims that it was already carbon neutral. If you were to take the announcements at face value, you'd be forgiven for believing that Google is stumbling while Amazon is speeding ahead in the race to clean up climate pollution. But while both companies are coming up short in their own ways, Google's approach to driving down greenhouse-gas emissions is now arguably more defensible. In fact, there's a growing consensus that how a company gets to net zero is more important than how fast it does so. And a new school of thought is emerging that moves beyond the net-zero model of corporate climate action, arguing that companies should focus on achieving broader climate impacts rather than trying to balance out every ton of carbon dioxide they emit. But to understand why, let's first examine how the two tech giants' approaches stack up, and where company climate strategies often go wrong. The core problem is that the costs and complexity of net-zero emissions plans, which require companies to cut or cancel out every ton of climate pollution across their supply chains, can create perverse incentives. Corporate sustainability officers often end up pursuing the quickest, cheapest ways of cleaning up a company's pollution on paper, rather than the most reliable ways of reducing its emissions in the real world. That may mean buying inexpensive carbon credits to offset ongoing pollution from their direct operations or that of their suppliers, rather than undertaking the tougher task of slashing those emissions at the source. Those programs can involve paying other parties to plant trees, restore coastal ecosystems, or alter agriculture practices in ways that purport to reduce emissions or pull carbon dioxide out of the air. The snag is, numerous studies and investigative stories have shown that such efforts often overstate the climate benefits, sometimes wildly.
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The Download: Big Tech's climate claims, and reducing your music streaming carbon footprint
This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Last week, Amazon trumpeted that it had purchased enough clean electricity to cover the energy demands of all its global operations, seven years ahead of its sustainability target. That news closely followed Google's acknowledgment that the soaring energy demands of its AI operations helped ratchet up its corporate emissions by 13% last year -- and that it had backed away from claims that it was already carbon neutral. If you were to take the announcements at face value, you'd be forgiven for believing that Google is stumbling while Amazon is speeding ahead in the race to clean up climate pollution. But while both companies are coming up short in their own ways, Google's approach to driving down greenhouse-gas emissions is now arguably more defensible. To learn why, read our story. -- James Temple This piece is part of MIT Technology Review Explains, our series untangling the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what's coming next. You can read more from the series here.
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A critical examination of the climate pledges made by tech giants Google and Amazon reveals discrepancies between their public commitments and actual environmental impact. The investigation highlights the complexities and challenges in corporate sustainability efforts.
In recent years, major technology companies like Google and Amazon have made bold claims about their commitment to combating climate change. However, a closer examination of their practices reveals a more complex and potentially concerning picture 1.
Google has proudly announced that it operates on "carbon-free energy" around the clock. This claim, while impressive at first glance, requires careful scrutiny. The company's approach involves purchasing renewable energy credits to offset its energy consumption. However, critics argue that this method doesn't necessarily translate to a real-time reduction in carbon emissions 1.
Amazon, another tech giant, has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. While this commitment seems ambitious, the company's definition of "net-zero" and the methods used to achieve this goal have come under scrutiny. Environmental experts question whether Amazon's approach truly addresses the core issues of carbon reduction 1.
The challenges faced by Google and Amazon highlight the broader issues in corporate climate action. Many companies struggle to balance their business growth with genuine environmental responsibility. The use of carbon offsets and renewable energy credits, while potentially beneficial, may not always result in the immediate and substantial emissions reductions needed to combat climate change effectively 2.
One of the key issues identified in the investigation is the lack of transparency in how these tech companies report their environmental impact. The complexity of global supply chains and energy grids makes it challenging to accurately measure and report emissions. This opacity raises questions about the true effectiveness of corporate climate initiatives 1.
As the scrutiny of corporate climate claims intensifies, there are growing calls for more stringent regulations and standardized reporting methods. Experts argue that without clear, universally accepted standards for measuring and reporting environmental impact, it will remain difficult to assess the true progress of companies in reducing their carbon footprint 2.
The revelations about big tech's climate claims also highlight the importance of consumer awareness. As more people become conscious of the environmental impact of their digital activities, there's a growing demand for transparency and genuine action from tech companies. This shift in consumer attitude could potentially drive more meaningful changes in corporate environmental policies 2.
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Major technology companies are using outdated carbon accounting rules to conceal the true environmental impact of their AI operations. This practice allows them to claim carbon neutrality while potentially underreporting their actual energy consumption and emissions.
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Recent studies reveal that data centers operated by major tech companies are emitting up to 600 times more greenhouse gases than previously reported. This alarming discrepancy raises concerns about the true environmental impact of the tech industry.
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The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is causing a surge in energy consumption by data centers, challenging sustainability goals and straining power grids. This trend is raising concerns about the environmental impact of AI and the tech industry's ability to balance innovation with eco-friendly practices.
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As artificial intelligence continues to advance, concerns grow about its energy consumption and environmental impact. This story explores the challenges and potential solutions in managing AI's carbon footprint.
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Chinese startup DeepSeek claims to have created an AI model that matches the performance of established rivals at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint. However, experts warn that increased efficiency might lead to higher overall energy consumption due to the Jevons paradox.
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