Lack of accurate embodied emissions data provided by third parties is hindering Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Microsoft’s ability to assess the Scope 3 emissions generated by their activities at datacentres. These companies, along with others like Meta, Digital Realty, and Schneider Electric, have signed an open letter by the iMason Climate Accord, aiming to make digital infrastructure more environmentally friendly.
The letter emphasizes the responsibility of the digital infrastructure industry to mitigate climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions. It calls for datacentre operators to increase their use of renewable energy and reduce embodied emissions during construction. The focus is on accelerating reductions in embodied emissions, which requires accurate lifecycle Scope 3 emissions data provided by third-party manufacturers in the form of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
According to the letter, a lack of EPDs from manufacturers makes it challenging for operators to determine the embodied emissions in their datacentres. AWS, Google, Microsoft, and other signatories are calling on suppliers to publish more EPDs for materials and equipment used in datacentre construction to meet regulatory and customer requirements. These actions will improve transparency, support GHG estimation, and help achieve climate goals through informed green procurement.
The letter’s details emerged following the release of annual environmental reports by AWS, Google, and Microsoft. These reports highlight efforts to reduce GHG emissions, with Microsoft reporting a rise in Scope 3 emissions due to datacentre construction, Google aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, and Amazon achieving a decrease in Scope 3 emissions.
Amazon, targeting carbon neutrality by 2040, signed the letter amid pressure from government enterprise users for AWS to provide Scope 3 emissions data through its Customer Carbon Footprint Tool. While AWS has committed to enabling users to track their Scope 3 emissions, the timeline for this capability remains uncertain.
In response to the letter’s publication, AWS expressed its commitment to working with industry partners to combat climate change and emphasized the importance of suppliers adopting EPDs for greater transparency in Scope 3 emissions.
