Google and Amazon reported significant increases in carbon emissions, up 25% and 16% respectively, driven largely by the energy demands of AI. The growth comes from data centers and hardware production, making it harder for both companies to meet their net zero targets. They now need to scale renewable energy, invest in greener materials, and buy carbon removal credits to stay on track. This story matters because it shows how AI growth is directly impacting corporate carbon footprints. For anyone following carbon markets or grid decarbonization, the scale of indirect emissions from hardware and construction is a key detail. The path to net zero for big tech now depends on how fast they can match AI expansion with clean energy and offsets.
