Environmental groups criticize Amazon and Google for carbon neutrality fraud, using loopholes to exaggerate emission reductions

Environmental groups say companies rely on measures such as tree planting to compensate for rather than cut carbon emissions

On February 8, Beijing time, two environmental organizations claimed that multinational companies, including Amazon and Google, made false and misleading statements on carbon neutrality, rather than immediately taking meaningful measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

An analysis of the emissions reduction commitments of 25 of the world's largest companies shows that their commitments account for only about 40 percent of the emissions reduction targets needed by mid-century. The analysis found that the big companies "exploited vulnerabilities and incomplete data" to exaggerate their actions to reduce emissions, and experts questioned the credibility of their carbon-neutral programs.

Silke Mooldijk, a policy analyst at the NewClimate Institute, an environmental group, said, "Given that many companies claim to be environmental leaders, we are shocked by the results of the analysis. Now that the targets and commitments have been published, these large companies should strive to deliver on their commitments and provide detailed information to facilitate an assessment of the authenticity of their objectives and measures. ”

Scientists and analysts are increasingly concerned that some companies are using carbon neutrality as a means of delaying emission reduction measures, relying on technological advances or naturally "digesting" greenhouse gases decades later, rather than taking immediate action.

The assessment found that only three companies – Maersk, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom – demonstrated a clear roadmap to cut emissions by more than 90 percent. Five companies committed to reducing emissions by less than 15 percent, and 25 companies had an average emissions reduction target of less than 20 percent.

The analysis found that several companies' emission reduction plans only include pollution from conducting operations, such as vehicle fuel and electricity consumed by buildings, while supply chain carbon emissions, which account for the vast majority of the carbon footprint, are not counted. Google, for example, exaggerated its commitment to carbon neutrality. The supply chain, which accounts for 60% of its 2020 carbon emissions, is not included in its carbon neutrality commitments. Google has no comment on this.

The analysis also found another problem in corporate carbon neutrality programs: reliance heavily on offsetting rather than cutting carbon emissions. Amazon's Carbon Neutral Climate Commitment 2040, for example, "is tarnished by relying on nature-based solutions to compensate for carbon emissions," such as planting trees or storing carbon emissions.

The analysis endorsed Amazon's $100 million Right Now Climate Fund, but noted that relying on nature to offset carbon emissions means that such projects are "inappropriate to support a declaration of carbon neutrality."

An Amazon spokesperson said that as part of the carbon neutrality goal, the company regularly reports its carbon footprint and has confidence in nature-based solutions, "we believe that nature-based solutions are necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce carbon emissions from operating activities". (Author/Frost Leaf)

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