Google’s latest sustainability report reveals a concerning issue. The company’s carbon emissions continue to climb, driven largely by its growing reliance on AI.
In 2024, Google emitted 11.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That marks an 11 percent increase from the previous year and a staggering 51 percent rise compared to 2019.
This puts Google further off course from its climate target. The company aimed to cut its emissions in half by 2030, using 2019 as a baseline.
However, the current trajectory suggests a widening gap between ambition and reality.
What Google Counts
Google reports what it calls “ambition-based” emissions. These figures exclude certain sources of pollution.
For example, the company does not count some purchased goods, services, and even its food programs. It labels these as “peripheral” to Alphabet’s core business.
However, if these sources are included, total emissions rise significantly. A table buried in the report’s appendix shows the full number: 15.2 million metric tons of CO₂.
That is equivalent to the yearly emissions of nearly 40 gas-fired power plants.
The Energy Demand
Every AI-powered tool, whether a chatbot, search engine, or recommendation system, requires massive computing power.
These systems rely on data centers, which run constantly and consume large amounts of electricity.
Google reports a 12 percent drop in data center emissions for 2024, but energy use is still rising overall.
That suggests AI-related activities are growing faster than efficiency improvements can offset.
Other tech companies face the same challenge. Microsoft and Meta have also seen energy consumption rise due to AI.
In fact, AI systems are projected to use more electricity than Bitcoin mining by the end of 2025.
Also read: Are AI Data Centers a Growing Strain on the U.S. Power Grid?
Barriers to Google’s Plan
- Unpredictable energy demands from AI
The company says it cannot fully predict how much electricity future AI systems will require. This uncertainty makes long-term planning more difficult.
- Slow adoption of clean energy
In many regions, renewable power sources remain limited. As a result, Google sometimes depends on fossil fuels to power its operations.
- Changing policies and regulations
Shifts in government energy policies can delay or disrupt progress. Recently, former President Donald Trump signed an order to support coal-powered data centers. This move works directly against clean energy goals.
Google acknowledges these hurdles. Yet there are arguments that the company should act more aggressively, especially given its size, wealth, and influence.
An Industry Problem
The rise in emissions is not unique to Google. The tech industry as a whole faces increased environmental costs due to AI advancements and massive integration.
For instance, Meta is currently building a gas-powered data center in Louisiana. This decision has raised concerns about long-term sustainability.
Meanwhile, some companies, such as DeepSeek, are attempting to develop more energy-efficient AI models.
In spite of these, efforts remain limited compared to the scale of the problem.
