Report on Google’s Environmental Impact and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

In 2021, Google announced an ambitious commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action. However, recent data and independent research reveal a contrary trend, with significant increases in the company’s carbon emissions and resource consumption. This report examines Google’s environmental performance, emphasizing the implications for multiple SDGs, including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Carbon Emissions Trends

1. According to Google’s latest sustainability report, carbon emissions increased by 51% between 2019 and 2024.
2. Research by the non-profit Kairos Fellowship indicates a 65% increase in emissions over the same period, with total greenhouse gas emissions rising by 1,515% from 2010 to 2024.
3. The largest year-over-year increase occurred between 2023 and 2024, with a 26% rise in emissions.

These findings highlight a divergence from SDG 13 targets, underscoring the urgency for enhanced climate action.

Discrepancies in Emission Metrics

• Google reports emissions using market-based metrics, which account for purchased energy offsets.
• Kairos Fellowship uses location-based metrics, reflecting actual emissions from local power grids, considered a more accurate measure of environmental impact.
• Market-based accounting can obscure the real environmental footprint by allowing emissions offsetting in different locations.

This discrepancy affects transparency and accountability, critical components of SDG 12.

Energy Consumption and AI Expansion

• Energy purchased to power Google’s data centers has increased by 820% since 2010.
• Between 2019 and 2024, emissions from electricity used in data centers rose by 121%, equivalent to adding the annual energy consumption of the entire state of Alaska.
• The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) services significantly contributes to this energy demand, challenging the balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability.

This trend raises concerns regarding SDG 7, emphasizing the need for affordable and clean energy solutions that can support technological growth without exacerbating environmental degradation.

Scope of Emissions and Future Projections

1. Google has meaningfully reduced only Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions from owned facilities and vehicles), which constitute a mere 0.31% of total emissions.
2. Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions from purchased electricity) and Scope 3 emissions (other indirect emissions such as supply chain and product use) continue to rise.
3. Without significant public and corporate intervention, Google is unlikely to meet its 2030 net-zero target.

This situation underscores the importance of comprehensive emissions management across all scopes to fulfill SDG 13 commitments.

Water Usage Concerns

• Google’s water withdrawal increased by 27% between 2023 and 2024, reaching 11 billion gallons.
• This volume could supply potable water for 2.5 million people and 5,500 industrial users in Boston and its suburbs for 55 days.
• Growing water consumption by data centers raises critical issues related to SDG 6, focusing on sustainable water management and conservation.

Industry and Public Pressure

• Tech companies, including Google, face increasing demands to power data centers with clean energy.
• Shareholder proposals at Amazon and open letters from environmental organizations urge Google, Amazon, and Microsoft to commit to no new gas and zero delayed coal plant retirements for data center power.
• Data centers are projected to consume electricity equivalent to that of 22 million households within five years, rivaling multiple mid-size states.

These pressures align with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), emphasizing collaborative efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Google’s sustainability report acknowledges uncertainties in future emissions due to AI growth and clean energy infrastructure availability.
• Kairos Fellowship criticizes Google’s reliance on speculative technologies, such as nuclear power, which may not be viable in the near or mid-term.
• The company’s focus on energy efficiency improvements obscures the reality of a 1,282% increase in total energy consumption since 2010.

These challenges highlight the complexity of balancing innovation with environmental stewardship, essential for achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) sustainably.

Conclusion

Google’s current environmental trajectory reveals significant challenges in meeting its net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2030. The company’s increasing carbon footprint, water usage, and energy consumption, particularly driven by AI expansion, pose risks to several Sustainable Development Goals. Transparent reporting, adoption of truly clean energy sources, and comprehensive emissions management across all scopes are critical to aligning Google’s operations with global sustainability targets. Public engagement and cross-sector collaboration remain vital to driving the necessary changes for a sustainable technological future.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Google’s energy consumption and its reliance on different energy sources, including nuclear power and clean energy, directly relate to this goal.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The rapid growth of AI and expansion of data centers highlight issues of sustainable industrialization and innovation.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Google’s increasing carbon emissions and water withdrawal emphasize the need for sustainable consumption and production patterns.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Google’s carbon emissions increase and failure to meet net-zero targets are directly linked to climate action challenges.
5. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The significant increase in water withdrawal by Google’s data centers relates to sustainable water management.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Target 12.4: Environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.
5. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Carbon Emissions Indicators
   • Percentage increase/decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., 51% increase between 2019 and 2024; 65% according to Kairos report).
   • Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data to track direct and indirect emissions.
   • Energy consumption in terawatt-hours (TWh) related to data centers (e.g., 6.8 TWh increase).
2. Energy Efficiency Indicators
   • Percentage improvement in energy efficiency of data centers (e.g., 50% improvement over 13 years).
   • Increase in total energy consumption (e.g., 1,282% increase since 2010).
3. Water Usage Indicators
   • Water withdrawal volume (e.g., 11 billion gallons in 2024, 27% increase from 2023).
4. Renewable Energy Usage Indicators
   • Proportion of energy sourced from renewable vs. non-renewable sources (implied through discussion of nuclear and clean energy reliance).
5. Corporate Reporting Transparency
   • Use of market-based vs. location-based emissions metrics to measure actual environmental impact.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com