Google and Amazon emissions surge as AI infrastructure outpaces grid decarbonization

Google and Amazon reported sharp increases in greenhouse gas emissions this week, driven by the rapid construction of AI data centers. Google's total emissions have jumped 82% since 2019, while Amazon's have risen 58% over the same period. Both companies now emit more per dollar of revenue, a first for Amazon since at least 2021. The core problem, as Google's chief sustainability officer put it, is that AI infrastructure is being built faster than the grid can decarbonize. Amazon emitted 80.85 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent last year, and Google 18.8 million tonnes. The emissions come from data center electricity use, supply chain manufacturing, and construction. Both companies are investing in renewable energy, nuclear, and electric trucks, but those efforts are not keeping pace with the surge in demand from AI. A UN report noted that data centers now consume more energy than all but 10 countries, and the UN Secretary General has launched an initiative calling for full environmental transparency from AI companies.