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 (versus our 2019 baseline) before 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’ll continue to take a science-based approach to our efforts, while sharing our own lessons and progress with others. There are three main focus areas that make up our approach to our net-zero goal: reducing emissions across our operations and value chain, advancing carbon-free energy, and 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, and 3 absolute emissions before 2030.
Target year
Before 2030
Status
2022
Total Scope 1, 2 (market-based), and 3 emissions: 10.2 million tCO₂e*
*Due to changes in methodologies, we are not reporting progress towards our emissions reduction target this year (see here for more information).
Related resources
Did you know?
-
On average, a Google-owned and -operated data center is more than 1.5 times as energy efficient as a typical enterprise data center.1
-
From 2011 to 2022, our carbon intensity per unit of revenue decreased by 76% while our business grew significantly over the same period.2
2 See the Environmental data tables in our Environmental Report for Carbon intensity per unit of revenue for 2022 (9.13 tCO2e/million US$). Our 2011 carbon intensity factor was reported in prior Environmental Reports as 38.8 (tCO2e of gross global combined Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 emissions/million US$).
Energy-efficient and low-carbon facilities
Related resources
Did you know?
-
Since 2012, the average annual power usage effectiveness (PUE)4 for our global fleet of data centers has stayed at or below 1.12.
-
As of 2022, over 1.8 million square meters (nearly 20 million square feet) of Google office facilities achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
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?
-
To date, we’ve installed more than 5,000 electric vehicle charging ports at our offices. We estimate that employee EV commuting in the United States and Canada avoided roughly 12,000 tCO2e emissions in 2022.2
1 Based on data collected from shuttle commuting trips in the 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 2022.
Supplier engagement
Related resources
Purchasing carbon-free energy
Tracking our progress
Target
Run on carbon-free energy 24/7 on every grid where we operate by 20302
Target year
2030
Status
Related resources
Did you know?
-
From 2010 to 2022, we signed more than 80 agreements totaling approximately 10 gigawatts of clean energy generation capacity—the equivalent of more than 31 million solar panels.
-
In 2022, seven of the grid regions3 in which we have data center operations achieved at least 90% CFE, and thirteen achieved at least 85% CFE.
Accelerating new and improved technologies
Related resources
Transforming the energy system through partnerships and advocacy
Related resources
Did you know?
-
In 2022, the 24/7 CFE compact surpassed 100+ signatories.
CFE investments
Related resources
Did you know?
-
From 2010 to 2022, we entered into agreements to invest nearly $2.9 billion in renewable energy projects with an expected combined generation capacity of approximately 4.2 GW.
-
26% of our suppliers said they have renewable energy targets, and 12% of suppliers have targets that are part of the RE100 initiative.
Strengthening carbon credit markets
Related resources
Carbon removal solutions
Related resources
Did you know?
-
Frontier has announced its first deal, a partnership with the start-up Charm Industrial to remove 112,000 tons of CO2 between 2024 and 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