Observed Signal · Sep 23, 2026 · Corporate Disclosure · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Amazon Unsure How to Achieve Net-Zero by 2040
At an Axios event, Amazon's chief sustainability officer Kara Hurst admitted the company does not yet have a concrete plan to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2040. While Amazon has invested heavily in clean energy (42 GW portfolio) and reduced carbon intensity over some periods, its emissions rose in 2025 compared to 2024. Hurst emphasized that tackling climate change requires collaboration between companies and governments, and that Amazon cannot do it alone. However, the company's decision to build a 7.65 GW natural gas power plant for an AI data center campus, which could be the largest single source of CO2 in the U.S., contradicts its climate leadership. The article questions whether even a giant like Amazon can balance revenue growth (especially in AI) with climate commitments, highlighting a broader industry dilemma.
News on Amazon's climate strategy is marginally relevant to AdTech due to its large cloud business (AWS) but not directly about advertising technology, marketing technology, or digital advertising.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Amazon's chief sustainability officer Kara Hurst admitted the company does not know how it will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
- Amazon has 42 GW of clean energy in its portfolio.
- Amazon's carbon intensity rose in 2025 compared to 2024.
- Amazon plans to build a 7.65 GW natural gas power plant for an AI data center campus.
- Amazon's revenue increased by 12% to $717 billion last year.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Amazon’s chief sustainability officer said Tuesday the company doesn’t know how it will achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 204...”
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Amazon plans massive gas power plant for AI center
Amazon plans to build a large natural-gas power plant in Pecos County, Texas, to supply electricity for a new AI data center. State permit documents indicate the project, named GW Ranch Energy Centre, would use 35 gas turbines to generate up to 7.65 gigawatts and could emit about 33 million tonnes of CO2 per year — more than any existing U.S. power plant. The proposal raises questions about Amazon's 2040 climate neutrality pledge and has drawn concern from environmental groups and energy observers. The article places the project in the wider U.S. context of rapid AI-driven data center growth, local debates over new data-center construction, and state-level regulatory decisions that have eased approvals.
Planned Amazon Texas data center may be largest US CO2 source
TechCrunch reports that Amazon plans a data center in Pecos County, Texas, with on-site natural-gas power generation that, per a New York Times report, is permitted to emit up to 33 million tons of carbon dioxide per year — more than any existing U.S. power plant. Amazon confirmed the facility will be powered by new on-site generation and said it would not raise electricity costs for Texas families, while reiterating its broader climate commitments amid rising emissions tied to AI and data-center growth. The report highlights tensions between tech infrastructure expansion, rising corporate emissions, and local political opposition to new data centers.
Google and Amazon Reports Reveal AI's Rising Emissions
Google and Amazon released sustainability reports showing material increases in their carbon footprints as AI usage and associated infrastructure expand. Google’s total emissions rose 25% year-over-year and Amazon’s rose 16%. Much of the increase is driven by Scope 3 emissions tied to capital goods — notably data-center construction, GPUs and semiconductor supply chains — rather than direct energy purchases, which have been moderated by renewable contracts. The reports note growing reliance on fossil-fuel-backed capacity (including investments in natural gas plants) to meet AI power demands. Both companies retain net-zero pledges but face higher costs and tougher decarbonization challenges, including scaling low-carbon steel/cement, expanding renewables, and buying large volumes of carbon removal credits.
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