Amazon strategized about keeping its datacenters full water use secret

6 months ago

Amazon kept its datacentres' water use extent secret, per a leaked document.
Amazon's datacentres consume vast amounts of water, surpassing competitors like Microsoft and Google.
The company planned a water efficiency campaign but excluded secondary water use to minimize reputational risk.
Amazon's 2021 water consumption was 105bn gallons, equivalent to 958,000 US households.
Amazon's 'Water Positive' campaign aims to return more water than it uses by 2030 but excludes secondary use.
Internal documents reveal Amazon chose not to disclose full water usage figures due to reputational concerns.
Scientists criticize Amazon for not including secondary water use in its sustainability metrics.
Amazon builds datacentres in dry regions, raising concerns about water scarcity.
AWS claims progress toward its Water Positive goal, but experts question the accounting methods.
Amazon funds methodologies to measure water offsets, which critics say obscure its true water footprint.

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