Google's 2026 environmental report shows its greenhouse gas emissions reached 14.47 million tons in 2025, an 18% increase from the previous year. Power consumption hit 43.6 TWh, up 37%, with data centers accounting for 97% of that total. Water use also rose 34%. The company says AI infrastructure growth is outpacing grid decarbonization, making its 2030 net zero target harder to reach. Google matched 100% of its power use with renewable energy purchases last year, but absolute emissions keep climbing. The report notes that tech companies are now writing defensive sustainability reports that explain how much damage was avoided rather than how much was cut. This is a concrete example of the tension between AI expansion and climate goals that many in the industry are watching closely.
