Google, Amazon Emissions Rise; Schneider Tops ESG

This week in sustainability: Google and Amazon recorded sharp increases in greenhouse gas emissions, largely driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence development and infrastructure. Schneider Electric was named the world’s most sustainable company by TIME Magazine and Statista for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, Natura launched a free digital platform that enables companies to measure and monetize the social, human, and environmental value they generate.

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AI Boom Drives Google, Amazon GHG Emissions Higher

Google and Amazon recorded sharp increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, largely driven by the rapid construction of physical infrastructure required to support AI development. Google disclosed that its total emissions have increased by 82% since 2019, including an 18% increase over the past year, placing additional pressure on its corporate commitment to cut emissions in half by 2030. Concurrently, Amazon reported a 58% emissions increase over the same period, including a 16% rise year over year, further complicating its target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2040.

Schneider Electric Retains World’s Sustainability Leadership

Schneider Electric has been named the World’s Most Sustainable Company by TIME Magazine and Statista for the third consecutive year, reinforcing its position as a global leader in energy technology and sustainability. The recognition comes as the company advances its new Impact 2030 roadmap, reporting significant progress in emissions reductions, energy efficiency, supplier engagement and workforce development. The ranking evaluates 5,000 of the world's largest and most influential companies and recognizes organizations that integrate sustainability into their business strategy, corporate governance and operational performance.

Natura Launches Free Platform to Measure Business Impact

Brazilian cosmetics company Natura has launched The Future P&L, a free digital platform that enables companies across industries to measure and monetize the social, human and environmental value they generate alongside traditional financial performance. Developed in partnership with Africa Creative, the platform makes key elements of Natura's Integrated Profit & Loss (iP&L) methodology available to businesses worldwide. The company has used the framework internally since 2021 to quantify the financial value of its environmental and social impacts, identifying more than US$9 billion in accumulated positive socio-environmental impact through its annual reports.

Michoacan to Lead Mexico’s Sustainable Corn Pilot

Michoacan will serve as the initial site for the Mexican government’s national pilot program for sustainable corn production. This initiative builds on comprehensive agroecological work conducted since 2021 by the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) through its Agrosano program, which promotes the transition to sustainable cultivation models using specialized bioinputs formulated with beneficial native microorganisms alongside traditional agroecological farming practices. The pilot initiative benefits more than 22,000 farming families by allowing technicians to isolate, purify and conserve more than 100 strains of native microorganisms collected from corn fields across the Meseta Purepecha, the Bajio and the Tierra Caliente production regions.