In its 2025 Environmental Report, Google highlights the launch of its seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), Ironwood, which operates nearly 30 times more efficiently than its first Cloud TPU released in 2018. This breakthrough is part of a broader push to reduce AI’s environmental footprint.
Luke Elder, Lead Sustainability Reporter at Google, underscores the importance of transparency and innovation in the company’s approach:
“Transparency, accuracy and rigour are the foundation of sustainability reporting,” Elder says. “As the volume and complexity of data and strategies grow, we’re innovating our processes to meet rising expectations without compromising on these core commitments.”
He also reveals that Google has begun integrating generative AI into its reporting workflow. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount from this first implementation and are already building more ways to leverage AI for future reports.”
These innovations — both in hardware and reporting — reflect Google’s commitment to scaling AI responsibly while leading in climate-conscious tech.
Meanwhile, Google is taking the environmental impact of AI seriously. In its Annual Environmental Report, the company explains how it is sustainably accommodating AI demand in its data centres.
Google is tackling AI’s rising energy needs through clean energy deals and hardware innovation, according to Elder.
Google’s annual Environmental Report explains how the company is sustainably accommodating AI demand in data centres | Credit: Google
The expansion of artificial intelligence presents a challenge for technology companies, as the very models designed to address climate issues are also driving a significant increase in electricity demand.
Around the world, data centres are consuming more power to support sophisticated algorithms, raising questions about the industry’s ability to meet environmental targets while advancing AI.
In its 10th annual Environmental Report, Google detailed a 12% reduction in emissions from its data centres in 2024, achieved alongside a 27% increase in electricity consumption. This was accomplished through a mix of clean energy procurement, hardware innovation, and infrastructure efficiency improvements.
“We’re proud to release our 10th annual Environmental Report, which details how we’re working to address the increased energy demands of AI to enable this positive impact, while also showcasing how AI can be used to build a more energy-efficient and resilient world,” Google states.
