Three years ago, Google announced an ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, meaning it would offset all the climate-changing gases it emits. However, a recent report from the company reveals that it is far from reaching this goal.

In 2023, Google’s emissions increased by 13% compared to the previous year and have risen by 48% since the baseline year of 2019. The company attributes this rise to the growing demand for artificial intelligence, which heavily relies on energy-intensive data centers. These data centers often use electricity generated from burning coal or natural gas, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Despite its significant climate commitments and reputation as an industry leader, Google’s progress has been disappointing. Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, emphasized that Google should collaborate more with cleaner companies and invest in improving the electrical grid. She stated, “We are far behind what we could already be doing now with the technology that we have, with the resources that we have, in terms of advancing the transition.”

Google's Chief Sustainability Officer, Kate Brandt, acknowledged the challenge, telling The Associated Press, “Reaching this net zero goal by 2030 is an extremely ambitious goal.”