Google deletes net-zero pledge from sustainability website
6 days ago
- #NetZero
- #AI
- Google's CEO Sundar Pichai announced in 2020 that Google aimed to operate carbon-free 24/7 by 2030.
- By 2024, Google's net-zero pledge was quietly demoted on its Sustainability website, shifting focus to 'Energy' due to AI expansion challenges.
- Google's electricity consumption surged by 26% in 2024, nearing Ireland's total usage, driven by AI data centers.
- McKinsey predicts AI-driven data centers will require $5.2 trillion in investment by 2030, consuming 70% of new electricity demand.
- Google's ambiguous stance includes removing net-zero headlines but maintaining 2030 goals, relying on carbon offsets.
- Experts note a 'net-zero recession' but emphasize that most sectors are recalibrating goals, not abandoning climate action.
- Trump's anti-climate policies and AI's energy demands may have influenced Google's retreat from public net-zero commitments.