Google Touts Net Zero Plans, but its Emissions Report Shows Otherwise

Climate activism is one of today’s most fashionable trends for companies looking to promote their products to progressive audiences, and Big Tech is one of its most vocal champions. Companies like Google tout ambitious goals of working towards fully renewable energy and net zero carbon emissions while flaunting their supposed climate “achievements” every year. Google’s customers, though, may be surprised to find out that the company’s climate initiatives are more fantasy than reality. They may not want to talk about it, but Americans’ technology use—from search engines to social media—is fueled by reliable, affordable energy sources like oil and gas.

Based on data from the company’s 2024 Environmental Report, Google is still a heavy user of traditional fuels. As one energy reporter, Robert Bryce put it, Google’s climate advocacy goals are “going up in smoke.” As Bryce points out, Google’s electricity use, carbon emissions, and CO2 intensity have all continued to rise year after year—a far cry from the net zero emissions it had been promising. Bryce reports that, since 2019, Google’s electricity use has doubled from 12.8 to 25.9 TWh, meaning the company uses as much electricity per year as the entire state of Idaho. This increased electricity use has translated into a quadrupling of its carbon emissions since 2017.

Google’s insatiable demand for energy begs the question: where is all this electricity going? The answer: massive data centers used by Google in the Big Tech race to develop AI. Artificial intelligence requires an incredible amount of energy to create and maintain, and since companies like Google are doubling down on the AI revolution, they will continue to guzzle electricity from the grid to feed their AI developers. Big Tech’s AI race will only further strain America’s struggling energy grid, which grid is already dealing with power outages and dated infrastructure.

Google’s illusory goals of net zero emissions reveal the hard truth that renewable energy production is not currently a viable solution for powering America. Although Big Tech would like Americans to believe that they are capable of magically sourcing all their electricity from renewable sources, it’s evident that reliable sources are necessary to meet the demands of Big Tech companies and everyday Americans. Rather than denigrate oil and gas for easy political clout, companies like Google need to support all energy infrastructure, not just renewable. Doing so will allow our country to continue to be a leader in global technology while keeping the lights on for all Americans.

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