Amazon's carbon emissions jump as AI push tests company's climate pledge

Core Insights - Amazon's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 6% from 2023 to 2024, marking the first year-over-year rise since 2021, primarily due to its delivery fleet and data center construction [3][4][10] Emission Trends - Total carbon emissions rose from 64.38 million metric tons in 2023 to 68.25 million metric tons in 2024 [4] - The peak of carbon emissions occurred in 2021 at 71.54 million metric tons, followed by a decrease in indirect emissions over the next two years [5] - Direct emissions from Amazon's transportation and logistics operations have been steadily increasing since 2019 [6] Sustainability Efforts - Amazon is investing in electric vehicles, with over 31,400 electric vans deployed globally as part of its effort to reduce emissions [6] - The company plans to spend $100 billion on data center and delivery operations in the current year, reflecting the growing energy demands of AI infrastructure [9] Challenges and Criticism - The push for AI is creating challenges for Amazon's sustainability goals, with emissions up more than 33% since the company set its net zero carbon goal in 2019 [10] - Critics, including Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, have accused the company of misleading claims regarding its energy sources, particularly concerning the reliance on fossil fuels for data centers [11][12] Carbon Intensity - Despite rising emissions, Amazon reported a 4% reduction in carbon intensity, indicating that emissions per dollar of revenue are decreasing [14]