Alphabet

Alphabet logo

Alphabet Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate and the parent company of Google, offering a wide range of products and services including search, advertising, hardware, and more. It operates various subsidiaries beyond internet services, aiming to innovate and expand into diverse technological fields.

Positive signals

Alphabet has implemented a strategy to cut emissions in all possible areas and remove remaining emissions through carbon removal technologies, as part of its 2030 net-zero goal.

Google continues to invest in clean energy projects, including the development of a small modular nuclear reactor expected to be delivered by 2030, as part of its strategy to decarbonize data center operations.

Alphabet (Google) has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030, with a target to reduce 50% of its combined Scope 1, 2, and 3 absolute emissions compared to its 2019 baseline.

Concerns

Alphabet AI workers were illegally silenced about pay

Google should be forced to bargain with contractor's union

Despite its net-zero commitments, Google’s emissions trajectory is moving in the wrong direction, with the company facing challenges in scaling digital services and AI while reducing carbon emissions, especially in hard-to-decarbonize regions like Asia-Pacific.

Alphabet’s total greenhouse gas emissions rose to 14.3 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent in 2023, marking a 13% increase from 2022 and a 48% increase above its 2019 baseline, primarily due to increased energy use at data centers and supply chain emissions.

Alphabet’s greenhouse gas emissions have ballooned, with data centers hosting energy-intensive AI functions identified as the primary cause, and the company’s energy consumption is currently outpacing its ability to bring on new clean energy projects.