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Amazon Emissions Rise 16% as AI Data-Center Buildout Accelerates

The company’s 2025 report shows AI-driven expansion is straining local power, water and materials systems and complicating near-term climate goals.

Overview

  • Amazon disclosed Wednesday that its 2025 greenhouse-gas emissions grew about 16% to roughly 80.8–80.9 million metric tons of CO2e, the company said in its 2025 sustainability report.
  • The company attributes the jump mainly to rapid data-center construction and operation for AI, with emissions from purchased electricity up about 34% year-on-year and supply-chain emissions rising roughly 20%.
  • Amazon said it matched its total electricity use with purchased clean energy for the third straight year and reaffirmed its net-zero-by-2040 pledge while CEO Andy Jassy flagged record capital spending near $200 billion this year for AI and related infrastructure.
  • Employees and shareholders are pressing for more disclosure and limits on buildout as local governments impose moratoria and permitting delays over grid and community impacts.
  • Experts and recent U.N. analysis warn that data-center growth will push energy, water and land demand higher through 2030, which could force tougher policy choices, bigger grid investment and new low-carbon materials or energy technologies.