Google Sustainability | Our most ambitious decade yet - YouTube

Hi, everyone.

It's safe to say we have never experienced a year quite like 2020.

The worst of times have brought out the best in our communities.

From neighbors rallying to support local businesses

to governments and companies coming together to build solutions

there's a prevailing sense that we are all in this together.

Now, we need that same spirit

to tackle another issue that affects everyone

climate change.

The science is clear.

We have until 2030 to chart a sustainable course for our planet

or face the worst consequences of climate change.

We are already feeling those impacts today

from historic wildfires in the US

to devastating flooding in many parts of the world.

At Google, we've always viewed a challenge

as an opportunity to be helpful

and make things better, for everyone.

Climate change is no different.

Sustainability has been a core value for us

since Google was founded 22 years ago.

By the end of our first decade, we were the first major company

to be carbon neutral in our operations.

By the end of our second decade, we had achieved 100% renewable energy

matching our electricity consumption with clean energy for our data centers

and offices around the world.

Last year, we made the largest corporate purchase

of renewable energy in history

and earlier this year, we issued $5.75 billion in sustainability bonds

the largest by any company in history.

And as of today, Google is the first major company

to eliminate our entire carbon legacy

including all our operational emissions before we became carbon neutral in 2007.

Put another way, every email you send through Gmail

every question you ask Google Search

every time you use Google Maps to find your fastest route home

has zero carbon footprint from our data centers

which is pretty incredible when you think about it.

And that's just the beginning.

Our next decade will be our most ambitious yet.

Today, I'm proud to announce that we intend to be the first major company

to operate carbon free

24 hours a day

7 days a week

365 days a year.

We'll do it by purchasing round-the-clock, carbon-free energy everywhere we operate

catalyzing technologies that make that possible

and support policies that will create a zero-carbon electricity system

and in the process, enabling more than 10,000 green jobs

in the first five years alone.

Of course, no company can solve a challenge like climate change alone.

That's why we are equally committed to creating tools

and investing in technologies to create a carbon-free world.

We are making a number of commitments to do just that.

First, we are enabling five gigawatts of new carbon-free energy

in manufacturing regions by 2030

creating over 8,000 clean energy jobs.

Second, we're helping more than 500 cities reduce one gigaton of carbon by 2030.

and supporting green infrastructure and jobs.

Third, we are helping commercial buildings and data centers

apply AI innovations to reduce energy use.

Fourth, we are working with environmental organizations

to remove carbon from the atmosphere through science-based reforestation

and other programs.

Google.org is pledging $1 million to support this effort.

Finally, we are committing to help 1 billion people

to live more sustainably by 2022

through our core products like Search and Maps.

Already, you can find electric vehicle charging stations

and bike-sharing locations in cities around the world using Google Maps.

Travelers in some European countries can sort results in Google Flights

based on how much carbon will be used.

We'll continue to find ways for our products to help people live more-sustainable lives.

Together, we are embarking on the next decade of climate action

and moving the world closer to a carbon-free future for all.

Thank you.