Google's net zero efforts -- led by Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt (pictured, top of page) -- don't end there. The company, driven by CEO Sundar Pichai, also develops cloud-based sustainability software tools for partners and customers to leverage. And the Google Startups for Sustainable Development program supports a global ecosystem of impact-focused startups. The program builds community and supports startups with advisors, funding, and platform technology.
The timeline below, updated regularly, further explains Google's sustainability strategy, key milestones, customer engagements, partner integrations and more. Check back regularly for updates.
Early Wildfire Detection: Google Research and Moun Space are touting Earth Fire Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes "AI to prevent the devastating impact of wildfires." The effort includes FireSat -- a satellite that seeks to detect smaller wildfires before they have a chance to spread.
Digital Ads: Google has announced Carbon Footprint for Google Ads, which allows marketers to track the emissions generated from accounts using Google advertising products.
Software - IT Carbon Accounting: The Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance (SDIA) has certified the Dynatrace Cost & Carbon Optimization app. The certification essentially confirms that Dynatrace's software "is a reliable estimation system for calculating the operational GHG emissions of IT infrastructure in cloud and on-premises environments," the SDIA said. The app allows customers to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and on-premises host instances.
Expanding Nuclear Capacity: Major companies -- including Amazon, Google and Meta -- signed a pledge to at least triple nuclear capacity by 2050, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Partnership - AI and Home Energy Management: Carrier Global and Google Cloud are partnering to "create intelligent, connected solutions for residential HVAC energy customers," the two companies said. The result: Carrier and Google Cloud are striving to deliver a smarter, more efficient and AI-powered energy ecosystem that benefits homeowners and supports the next generation of technology infrastructure, the firms added.
Cloud Partner:Othersphere has achieved the Google Cloud Ready - Sustainability designation in the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program. Othersphere Explorer, which runs on Google Cloud, is an enterprise software tool that "accelerates deployment of sustainable industrial infrastructure," the company said.
AI and Weather Forecasting: Google DeepMind and Google Research have released WeatherNext -- a family of AI models that could help energy companies, retailers, financial services firms, manufacturers and others better prepare for extreme weather events.
February 2025 Updates
India Office Hub: Google's new office hub in India, known as Ananta, integrates several environmentally responsible features, APAC News Network reported. The campus recycles 100% of its wastewater, has an advanced rainwater harvesting system, and houses one of India’s largest smart glass installations to optimize energy consumption, the report said.
Cloud Services Partnership: mCloudTech.ai plans to launch new asset performance management capabilities atop Google Cloud sometime in 2025. The AI- and blockchain-based services will help Saudi Arabia-based customers with their carbon tracking and decarbonization efforts.
Death of DEI?: Accenture is the latest IT-focused company to end its diversity and inclusion goals, Reuters reported. Meta (parent of Facebook), Alphabet (parent of Google) and Amazon also scrapped their DEI goals amid Trump's return to the presidency, the report noted.
Quantum Computing Strategy: Google is striving to release commercial quantum computing applications within five years, Reuters reported. "We’re optimistic that within five years we’ll see real-world applications that are possible only on quantum computers," founder and lead of Google Quantum AI Hartmut Neven said, the report added.
January 2025 Updates
Carbon Credits Deal: Google will buy carbon credits from Varaha, an Indian initiative that turns large amounts of agricultural waste into biochar - a form of charcoal that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and returns it to the soil, Reuters reported. Related: See Google's sustainable IT strategy.
December 2024: Sustainability Strategy Updates
Partnership - Data Centers and Renewable Energy: Google has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Apex Clean Energy. The result: Virginia’s first onshore wind farm will supply power to Google's data centers in Virginia.
Partnership - Virtual Power Plants: NRG Energy, Renew Home and Google Cloud are partnering to promote virtual power plant (VPP) technology to improve the Texas power grid's resiliency.
Quantum Computing:Google unveiled Willow, a quantum computing chip that vastly outperforms typical supercomputers. Google predicts the Willow chips will help users to research and develop medicines; designing more efficient batteries for electric cars; and accelerating progress in fusion and new energy alternatives, the company said.
Startup Honor: Alchemy earned a ‘Growing New Technology’ Award at this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards Ireland, in association with Google. Alchemy specializes in recover, refresh and remarket services for IT and consumer devices.
Air Quality Software: Google has unveiled Air View+, which displays real-time hyperlocal air quality information in Google Maps for users across India.
Partnership - AI and Quantum Processors: Nvidia and Google are partnering to design quantum artificial intelligence processors.
Request for Information: The Net Zero Innovation Hub (NZIH) has launched a Request for Information (RFI) that seeks net zero data center backup power solutions in Europe. The hub --launched by Danfoss, Data4, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and Vertiv -- seeks to "accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions which can substitute diesel back-up generators."
Cloud Partner:Blyncsy, a Bentley Systems company, has achieved the Google Cloud Ready - Sustainability designation in the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program. Blyncsy develops road maintenance and asset inventory technology. The software automates U.S. roadway inspections using crowdsourced dash camera imagery combined with AI analytics.
Texas Solar Energy Project: One of the largest solar projects in the U.S. opened in Texas, backed by what Google said is the largest solar electricity purchase it has ever made, the Associated Press reported.
AI Cloud Services: Google Cloud is testing servers running on Nvidia's Blackwell line. The Google Cloud-Blackwell statement arrived roughly one week after Microsoft Azure claimed to be the first cloud running Blackwell on production systems.
Nuclear Power: Google has partnered with Kairos Power to deploy small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to support its 24/7 carbon-free energy targets by 2035.
United States - Data Center Energy Payment Debate: A showdown involving Big Tech companies -- such as Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft -- vs. an Ohio utility could shape the way data center companies pay for power across the United States, Reuters reported. AEP Ohio wants data centers and cryptocurrency miners to provide pre-payments and other financial assurances for their massive energy needs, the report said. Data center businesses are battling that proposal.
Carbon Credits: Google plans to purchase nature-based carbon removal credits from Mombak -- a Brazilian startup, Reuters reported. This is Google's first engagement with carbon projects in the South American country, the report said.
Data Center Reset: Google will rework from scratch its plans to build a $200 million data center in Santiago, Chile, amid various environmental impact concerns, Reuters reported.
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