Net-zero carbon
Aiming to achieve net-zero emissions and 24/7 carbon-free energy
At Google, our goal is to achieve net-zero emissions across all of our operations and value chain by 2030. We aim to reduce 50% of our combined Scope 1, 2 (market-based), and 3 absolute emissions (compared to our 2019 base year) by 2030, and plan to invest in nature-based and technology-based carbon removal solutions to neutralize our remaining emissions.
Our net-zero goal is supported by an ambitious clean energy goal to operate our offices and data centers on 24/7 carbon-free energy, such as solar and wind.1
In our third decade of climate action, we continue to take a science-based approach to our efforts, while sharing our own lessons and progress with others. We’re working toward this goal in two key ways: first, we’re focused on reducing emissions across our operations and value chain (including advancing 24/7 carbon-free energy), and after reducing our emissions as much as possible, we’re addressing our residual emissions with carbon removals.
Our key efforts
Calculating and reporting our carbon footprint
Related resources
Our emissions reduction goal
Tracking our progress
Target
Reduce 50% of our combined Scope 1, 2 (market-based), and 3 absolute emissions (compared to our 2019 base year) by 2030.
Target year
2030
Status
2023
Our total GHG emissions were 14.3 million tCO₂e, representing a 13% year-over-year increase and a 48% increase compared to our 2019 target base year—primarily due to increases in data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions.
Related resources
Did you know?
-
On average, a Google-owned and -operated data center is approximately 1.8 times as energy efficient as a typical enterprise data center.1
Energy-efficient and low-carbon facilities
Related resources
Did you know?
-
Since 2012, our average annual fleet-wide PUE5 has stayed at or below 1.12.
-
As of the end of 2023, over 300 Google office facilities have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, including 71 with a Platinum rating and 165 with a Gold rating.
3 According to Google’s own analysis of our more efficient servers, power infrastructure, and cooling systems, compared with data center industry averages based on 2023 data. Uptime Institute’s annual data center survey from 2023 noted that the primary contributor to the flatlining of the industry average PUE is a richer geographical mix of surveyed data centers, with an increasing number of data centers in the Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America regions. Facilities in these regions tend to be smaller in capacity and located in warmer climates—both factors which typically require greater energy consumption.
Electrification at our offices
Related Resources
Did you know?
-
Our 6 Pancras Square office was the first building project in the world to receive International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification.
-
Our 237 Moffett Park Drive office in Sunnyvale is nearly entirely solar-powered, with 91% of its annual estimated energy demand covered by 5,000 on-site solar panels.
Sustainable travel and commuting
Related resources
Did you know?
-
As of 2023, we’ve installed more than 6,000 electric vehicle charging ports at our offices in the United States and Canada.
1 Based on data collected from shuttle commuting trips in the San Francisco Bay Area, as compared to a scenario in which these employees had each used a private, fuel-based car for commuting. Assumptions include average Googler commute distance, miles per gallon assumptions from the Bureau of Transportation, and emissions per gallon of fuel assumptions from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Equivalency estimate is based on workdays in the year, using data from "Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed May 2024.
Supplier engagement
Related resources
1 Per CDP’s guidance documents, reported targets are considered “structured” if they include the scope(s) of emissions covered, the reduction percentage from the base year, the total base year emissions, the target year, and the target status.
Purchasing carbon-free energy
Tracking our progress
Target
Run on 24/7 carbon-free energy on every grid where we operate by 2030.2
Target year
2030
Status
2023
We maintained a global average of approximately 64% carbon-free energy across our data centers and offices from 2022 to 2023—despite growth in electricity demand over this period.
Related resources
Did you know?
-
From 2010 to 2023, we signed more than 115 agreements totaling over 14 GW of clean energy generation capacity4—the equivalent of more than 36 million solar panels.5
-
In 2023, 10 of our 44 grid regions3 achieved at least 90% CFE.
5 Solar panels equivalency based on “How much power is 1 Gigawatt?,” Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, August 2023.
Accelerating new and improved technologies
Related resources
Transforming the energy system through partnerships and advocacy
Related resources
-
A new initiative with Microsoft and Nucor to accelerate advanced clean electricity technologies
Did you know?
-
In 2023, the 24/7 CFE compact surpassed 140 signatories.
CFE investments
Related resources
Did you know?
-
From 2010 to 2023, we entered into agreements to invest approximately $3.1 billion in renewable energy projects with an expected combined generation capacity of approximately 4.5 GW.2
Strengthening carbon credit markets
Related resources
Managing residual emissions
Related resources
Did you know?
-
As of the end of 2023, we signed three carbon credit offtake deals representing a total purchase of approximately 62,500 tCO2e of removal credits, which are contracted for delivery by 2030.
Report
Accelerating Climate Action at Google and Beyond: A Progress Update
This paper offers an overview of our climate ambitions, an update on our efforts, and examples of how we are using technology to accelerate climate action.
November 2022