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Carbon Capture Dichotomy: Real Investments or Carbon Credits?

Two articles recently caught my attention relative to sustainability and carbon capture. Google and Microsoft are taking diametrically opposed actions. (And by the way, they are also collaborating on some initiatives!) In this article, we reiterate definitions of carbon offsets or credits and the most common ways it is implemented, as well as discuss the difference between investing in carbon capture or removal directly and through credits. Carbon capture is likely the fastest way to stem the tide of climate crisis, although it won’t happen overnight. There are some big projects underway, but many still need to reach scale and affordability. And they need to be done safely, ethically, and transparently.

Monday, September 09, 2024

Two top tech companies take different approaches; which do you think is better?

Google had claimed carbon neutrality since 2007 based on purchase of carbon offsets, but more recently has ditched that approach, according to a post on CarbonCredits.com. The post notes, “In 2021, Google set an ambitious target to achieve net zero emissions across all operations and value chains by 2030. This includes reducing 50% of Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions from a 2019 baseline, and investing in nature-based and technology-based carbon removal solutions to neutralize the rest.”

In 2023, the company reported 14.3 million tCO2e, a 13% year-over-year increase and 48% higher than 2019.  Why? Increased data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions. This is due to market demands, and also to the increased computing power demanded by emerging artificial intelligence developments. AI does not come for free, especially when considering computing power, heat generation, increased energy consumption, and more.


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About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.

Cary Sherburne is available for speaking engagements and consulting projects. To get more information contact us.

Please offer your feedback to Cary. She can be reached at [email protected].

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