Overview

• Amazon’s 2024 carbon emissions increased 6% to 68.25 million metric tons of CO₂e, marking the first annual rise since 2021 and a one-third jump since its 2019 net-zero pledge.
• The surge was primarily driven by accelerated data center construction for generative AI, which requires substantial electricity and cooling, alongside higher fuel consumption in its delivery network.
• Amazon has committed to a record infrastructure investment plan, including a $100 billion AWS spending pledge for 2025 and agreements to procure carbon-free nuclear power.
• Employee-led groups and climate activists have challenged Amazon’s claim of matching 100% of data center electricity with renewables, citing continued reliance on gas and coal.
• Despite the emissions uptick, Amazon continues to deploy over 31,400 Rivian electric delivery vans and lead The Climate Pledge initiative, now backed by 549 signatories.