Wednesday, 23 June 2021
In its recent Sustainability Report, Facebook stated that it has met its 2020 emissions goal and use 100 percent renewable energy for its global operations. Additionally, the tech giant plans to do the same for the rest of its value chain in 2030.
Releasing its ‘2020 Sustainability Report’ on Tuesday (22 June 2021), Facebook said that it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 94 percent from 2017 levels, exceeding its goal of a 75 percent reduction. From 300 grams of CO2 equivalent per user in 2016, Facebook’s total global operations consumed just 12 grams in 2020.
Facebook's global operations are now 100% powered by renewable energy. Its renewable energy portfolio totalled over 5.9 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar energy under contract, and Facebook increased its operating portfolio of wind and solar to over 2.8 GW spanning 15 US states, Europe and Asia. Facebook is also running a more efficient operation making Facebook data centers use 32% less electricity, and 80% less water, than the industry average claimed Mike Schroepfer, Chief Technology Officer in his blog post 'Building a Sustainable Internet (fb.com)'.
“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face. Delivering essential technologies and reliable climate information to billions of people is at the heart of how Facebook can help address the crisis. And we believe we can do it with a net-zero carbon footprint,” said Mike Schroepfer.
Facebook said it has also invested in high-quality carbon removal projects that removed 145,000 metric tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, including reforestation projects in East Africa and the Mississippi River Valley.
Source: Sustainability at Facebook