Brian Barton
Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, has been criticised for its carbon footprint and impact on the environment. The company has made various pledges to reduce its emissions, including its Climate Pledge initiative in 2019, which committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. However, despite investing in renewable energy projects, Amazon's total emissions have increased since 2019, with a reported carbon footprint of 71.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021. While Amazon reported a slight decrease in emissions in 2023, critics argue that the company is not doing enough to address its impact on climate change, with a particular focus on its shipping and logistics operations.
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What You'll Learn
Amazon's carbon emissions fell 3% in 2023
Amazon's carbon emissions fell by 3% in 2023, according to the company's annual sustainability report. The e-commerce giant's total emissions were 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, down from 70.74 million tons the previous year. This reduction was driven by a 13% decline in emissions related to capital goods, including construction and equipment purchases, as Amazon cut spending on new warehouses and cloud-computing data centres.
The company has also invested in more than 500 wind and solar projects globally, representing 28 gigawatts of capacity. Amazon is the largest corporate purchaser of renewable electricity in the world, according to Bloomberg NEF. It has also invested in 112 new renewable projects in the last year.
Despite this overall reduction, emissions from Amazon's direct operations rose by 7% to 14.27 million tons. This increase was attributed to a greater number of packages delivered by its in-house logistics team and overall business growth, including its data centres.
Amazon has set a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and aims to make its business more resilient and sustainable by scaling carbon-free energy. The company has committed to The Climate Pledge, co-founded in 2019, to achieve this target. As part of its efforts, Amazon has purchased 100,000 electric delivery vans and is expanding the use of zero-emission transportation, such as cargo e-bikes and on-foot deliveries.
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Amazon's US transportation pollution has increased since 2019
Amazon's US transportation pollution has been increasing since 2019, despite the company's efforts to position itself as a climate champion. Amazon's maritime emissions have risen by 26% since 2019, with idling ships carrying Amazon products poisoning frontline communities who are bearing the brunt of port pollution. Amazon's growing dependence on air freight shipping has resulted in a 67% increase in CO2 emissions, while its expansion of fossil fuel-powered delivery vans has led to a 195% increase in CO2 emissions. Overall, Amazon's US imports and domestic deliveries have grown at an average annual rate of 18% since 2019, contributing to the rise in transportation pollution.
Amazon has responded to these criticisms by emphasizing its commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and its investments in renewable energy projects. The company has also highlighted its use of electric delivery vans, cargo e-bikes, and on-foot deliveries to reduce transportation emissions. However, critics argue that Amazon's efforts do not go far enough and that the company needs to take more significant action to address its emissions from shipping.
Amazon's total emissions include those generated from its supply chain, third-party logistics, and purchased electricity. In 2023, Amazon's total emissions were 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 3% decrease from the previous year. This reduction was attributed to the company's success in matching all the electricity it consumes globally with renewable power sources.
Amazon has also been criticized for undercounting its carbon footprint. Unlike its competitors, Amazon does not include the emissions from manufacturing and using the products it sells in its carbon footprint calculations. This discrepancy has led to accusations of "greenwashing," with Amazon being labeled a "prime polluter." Despite its pledges and initiatives, Amazon's US transportation pollution has continued to increase since 2019, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and effective measures to reduce its environmental impact.
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Amazon's carbon footprint increased 36% from 2018 to 2020
Amazon's carbon footprint increased by 36% from 2018 to 2020, according to a report by Reveal. This increase occurred despite Amazon's public sustainability report, which stated that its "carbon intensity"—the amount of carbon emitted per dollar made—improved by 16% in 2020. Amazon has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and undercounting of its carbon footprint.
In response to the report, Amazon has argued that the year-over-year carbon intensity comparison reflects its early progress in decarbonizing operations while continuing to grow as a company. However, critics have accused the company of greenwashing and misleading the public about its climate goals.
Amazon has made efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. The company has invested in wind and solar projects and aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. In 2023, Amazon's total emissions fell by 3%, and the company met its target of matching all its electricity consumption with renewable power.
However, Amazon's shipping and delivery services have faced scrutiny for increasing pollution. Despite initiatives like the Climate Pledge, Amazon's U.S. shipping and delivery pollution have continued to expand, with a reported average annual growth rate of 18% from 2019 to 2023. Key contributors to this increased pollution include Amazon's growing reliance on air freight shipping and fossil fuel-powered delivery vans.
Amazon's maritime emissions have also risen by 26% since 2019, impacting portside communities. The company has been urged to commit to zero-emission, fossil-free ocean shipping and address emissions from shipping its products.
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Amazon's direct operations emissions rose 7% to 14.27 million tons in 2023
Amazon's total emissions fell by 3% in 2023, according to the company's annual sustainability report. The e-commerce giant's total emissions were 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, down from 70.74 million tons the previous year. However, within this overall reduction, Amazon's direct operations emissions rose by 7% to 14.27 million tons. Amazon attributed this rise to an increase in the number of packages delivered by its in-house logistics team and overall business growth. This figure also includes emissions from Amazon's data centres.
The power used and emissions created by technology giants like Amazon have come under increasing scrutiny as the growth of AI increases electricity consumption. Amazon's Director of Worldwide Carbon, Chris Roe, acknowledged that "generative AI requires a lot of computing power," and that the company will need "different sources of energy" to meet its climate goals.
Amazon has made notable investments in renewable energy projects, becoming the largest corporate purchaser of renewable electricity in the world, according to Bloomberg NEF. The company has invested in more than 500 wind and solar projects globally, representing 28 gigawatts of capacity. Amazon also reported that its Scope 2 emissions, which account for emissions from electricity use, dropped by 29% between 2021 and 2022.
Despite these efforts, Amazon has faced criticism for its handling of climate issues. In 2023, a report by Stand.earth Research Group, the Clean Mobility Collective, and the Ship it Zero campaign revealed that Amazon's greenhouse gas emissions had dramatically increased since its "Climate Pledge" initiative was announced in 2019. Over a five-year period, Amazon's emissions from U.S. imports and domestic deliveries grew at an average annual rate of 18%, with key contributors being increased air freight shipping and the expansion of fossil fuel-powered delivery vans. Amazon's maritime emissions have also risen by 26% since 2019, impacting portside communities.
Amazon has set a target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and has committed to making its entire business net-zero carbon by this date. The company has identified interim goals and key areas for decarbonization to work towards this target.
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Amazon's climate goals and initiatives
Amazon's total emissions fell by 3% in 2023, according to the company's annual sustainability report. This decrease in emissions was achieved through improved efficiency and continued investment in renewable energy. Amazon has invested in over 500 wind and solar projects globally, representing 28 gigawatts of capacity. The company is also the largest corporate purchaser of renewable electricity in the world, according to Bloomberg NEF.
Despite this progress, Amazon has faced criticism for its handling of climate issues. A report by Stand.earth Research Group, the Clean Mobility Collective, and the Ship it Zero campaign revealed that Amazon's greenhouse gas emissions have increased since its "'Climate Pledge' initiative was announced in 2019. Over a five-year period, Amazon's emissions from US imports and domestic deliveries grew at an average annual rate of 18%, with key contributors being increased air freight shipping and the expanded use of fossil fuel-powered delivery vans.
Amazon has set a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and previously targeted matching 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable power by 2030, which it has achieved. The company is working to decarbonize transportation by increasing fleet efficiency, adopting low-carbon fuels, and scaling electric and alternative-fuel vehicles. Amazon has also committed to expanding zero-emission transportation methods, including electric delivery vans, cargo e-bikes, and on-foot deliveries.
To address emissions across its portfolio, Amazon is improving the energy efficiency of its buildings and increasing the use of carbon-free energy and sustainable building materials. The company has pledged to update its supply chain standards, requiring suppliers to disclose their carbon emissions data and set emissions reduction goals. Amazon has eliminated one of its previous climate goals, "Shipment Zero," which aimed for carbon-neutral shipments by 2030, in favor of focusing on its broader Climate Pledge initiative.
Amazon's reported carbon footprint increased by over 36% from 2018 to 2020, and the company has been accused of undercounting its carbon footprint by only taking responsibility for Amazon-branded products, which make up about 1% of its online sales. Despite these concerns, Amazon remains committed to its Climate Pledge, which has been signed by over 550 companies, and continues to work towards its net-zero target.
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Frequently asked questions
Amazon's carbon footprint was 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, down from 70.74 million tons in 2022 and 71.54 million tons in 2021.
Amazon has invested in over 500 wind and solar projects globally, representing 28 gigawatts of capacity. The company has also pledged to make its entire business net-zero carbon by 2040 and is taking steps to decarbonize its transportation and supply chain.
Amazon's carbon emissions decreased for the first time in 2022, falling 0.4% from the previous year. However, emissions are still up roughly 40% from 2019 when the company first began disclosing its carbon footprint.
Amazon's transportation pollution, particularly from its heavy-duty trucks and last-mile delivery vans, has been criticized for its negative impact on the climate and frontline communities. Amazon's maritime emissions have risen 26% since 2019, and its greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. imports and domestic deliveries have increased at an average annual growth rate of 18%.
