Google’s Emissions Surge: AI and Expansion Challenge Goals

Throughout the previous five years, Google’s emissions have increased by 48%. Google stated in its yearly environmental report, released on Tuesday, July 2, that in 2023, its greenhouse gas emissions were 14.3 million tons of carbon dioxide. These figures represent an increase of 48% from 2019 and a 13% increase from 2022. This increase was blamed on supply chain emissions, which the corporation primarily ascribes to increased data center electricity consumption.

According to Google, as artificial intelligence becomes more ingrained in its product mix, it becomes more difficult to reduce emissions due to the rising energy requirements for AI computations and the emissions brought on by larger investments in technological infrastructure.

The fact that Google promised in 2021 to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030 is a strong testament to this magnificent state. The IT giant wants to cut 50% of its overall emissions in order to accomplish this, and it plans to invest the remaining amount in technology-driven and naturally occurring carbon removal solutions to make up the difference. Regarding this, the corporation declared that it would seek approval for its complete emission reduction as part of the Science-Based Targets program (SBTi).

Google anticipates that despite these efforts, its overall emissions will “rise before dropping toward our absolute emissions reduction target.” To be honest, the corporation is aware that pursuing a trajectory toward a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2030 is so ambitious that not everything is under its control. Particularly considering the uncertainty surrounding the potential environmental impact of AI in the future.

Furthermore, according to Google, the answers to a number of pressing global issues are still being developed and will primarily depend on the wider shift toward sustainable energy.

Google revealed plans to expand its data center footprint to include Singapore and Malaysia earlier this month. The internet behemoth completed the construction of its newest data center and cloud campus in Singapore, increasing its total investment in the nation’s technological infrastructure to $5 billion from $850 million in 2018. This expansion is a component of Google’s Create@SG program, which aims to establish Singapore as a regional hub for data centers and technology, and is intended to address the rapidly increasing demand for cloud services from both domestic and international consumers.

“This new investment to expand our data center campus in Singapore reaffirms our commitment and effort toward supporting Southeast Asian organizations in realizing the full potential of digital opportunities and ensuring this growth is as sustainable as possible,” said Kate Brandt, chief sustainability officer at Google.