Amazon and Google both reported significant emissions increases in 2025, driven by the energy demands of AI data centers. Amazon's greenhouse gas emissions rose 16% to 81 million metric tons, while Google's electricity use surged 37% and its ambition-based emissions climbed 18%. The companies still target net-zero by 2040 and 2030, but AI's rapid growth is outpacing grid decarbonization. Data center construction and hardware manufacturing are the main drivers. Amazon's electricity-related emissions jumped 34%, and Google's supply-chain emissions rose 25%. Both companies acknowledge the challenge, with Google stating its AI infrastructure buildout is accelerating faster than the grid is decarbonizing. Shareholder proposals asking for clearer plans on balancing AI power needs with climate pledges failed to secure majority votes this spring.
