WBA and ITU publish fourth annual joint report assessing digital companies’ climate commitments and progress
Geneva, 5 June 2025 – Tech sector carbon emissions continued their rise in recent years, fueled by rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and data infrastructure, according to Greening Digital Companies 2025.
The report, produced by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), tracks the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use, and climate commitments of 200 leading digital companies as of 2023, the most recent year for which full data is available.
While the annual report calls on digital companies to address their growing environmental footprint, it also indicates encouraging progress. Worldwide, more companies had set emissions targets, sourced renewable energy and aligned with science-based frameworks.
“Advances in digital innovation — especially AI — are driving up energy consumption and global emissions,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
While more must be done to shrink the tech sector’s footprint, the latest Greening Digital Companies report shows that industry understands the challenge — and that continued progress depends on sustaining momentum together.
Global AI expansion fuels energy demand
According to the latest edition of the report, electricity consumption by data centers — which power AI development and deployment, among other uses — increased by 12 per cent each year from 2017 to 2023, four times faster than global electricity growth.
Four leading AI-focused companies alone saw their operational emissions increase in the reporting period by 150 per cent on average since 2020. This rise in energy that is either produced or purchased – known as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions – underscores the urgent need to manage AI’s environmental impact.
In total, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reported by the 166 digital companies covered by the report contributed 0.8 per cent of all global energy-related emissions in 2023.
The 164 digital companies that reported electricity consumption accounted for 2.1 per cent of global electricity use, at 581 terawatt-hours (TWh), with 10 companies responsible for half of this total.
“Digital companies have the tools and influence to lead the global climate transition, but progress must be measured not only by ambition, but by credible action,” said Lourdes O. Montenegro, Director of Research and Digitisation at WBA.
This report provides a clear signal to the international community: more companies are stepping up, but emissions and electricity use continues to rise.
Progress amid rising challenges
Although emissions continued their rise, Greening Digital Companies 2025 highlights steps taken by many tech firms that suggest a strengthening of transparency and accountability.
Eight companies scored above 90 per cent in the report’s climate commitment assessment on data disclosure, targets and performance. This is up from just three in last year’s report.
For the first time, the report includes data on companies’ progress toward meeting climate targets and realizing stated net-zero ambitions. Almost half of the companies assessed had committed to achieving net-zero emissions, with 41 firms targeting 2050 and 51 aiming for earlier deadlines.
Other trends among the 200 digital companies featured in the report include:
- Renewable energy adoption: 23 companies operated on 100 per cent renewable energy in 2023, up from 16 in 2022.
- Dedicated climate reporting: 49 companies released standalone climate reports, signaling greater transparency.
- Scope 3 consideration: The number of companies publishing targets on indirect emissions from supply chains and product use rose from 73 to 110, showing increasing awareness of industry impacts.
A call for bold, collaborative and immediate action
Highlighting how the tech sector can ensure long-term digital sustainability, the joint ITU-WBA report recommends that companies:
- Strengthen data verification, target ambition and climate reporting, including by publishing climate transition action plans.
- Disclose the full environmental footprint of their AI operations.
- Foster cross-sector collaboration among tech firms, energy producers and environmental advocates, alongside industry initiatives to drive accelerated digital decarbonization.
- Keep accelerating renewable energy adoption.
“The Greening Digital Companies report has become a vital tool in tracking the climate footprint of the ICT sector,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau.
Despite the progress made, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, confirming that that the need for digital companies to adopt science-aligned, transparent, and accountable climate strategies has never been greater. ITU’s work in monitoring the environmental impact of the sector is a crucial step towards achieving a sustainable digital transformation.
ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau is working with regulators, statisticians, academics, and industry experts to define indicators that support national GHG monitoring and data-driven action through the Expert Group on Telecommunication/ICT Indicators.
As the COP30 UN climate conference approaches, ITU’s Green Digital Action aims to ensure that updated climate pledges and adaptation plans will fully reflect the complete impacts of digital technologies.
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About WBA:
WBA is an independent, non-profit organization measuring how the 2,000 most influential companies impact people and planet. It does this so that everyone – including governments, financial institutions, civil society organizations and the media – can hold companies accountable for contributing to sustainable development. Data in this report were collected as part of WBA’s Digital Inclusion Benchmark, which assesses the world’s leading technology companies on their performance in enhancing access to digital technologies, improving digital skills, fostering trustworthy use, and innovating openly, inclusively and ethically. In addition, in January 2026, WBA’s Climate Benchmark will assess the 2,000 most influential companies on the credibility and integrity of their transition plans, including their efforts to ensure that people, communities and other affected stakeholders are not left behind. Learn more here: https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/
About ITU:
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and is helping to make sure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities. From artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world and beyond. Learn more: www.itu.int
This press release was originally published by ITU here.
For general questions, please contact:
David Hirsch
Senior Media Relations Officer
International Telecommunication Union
Press line: +41 22 730 5092
E-mail: pressinfo@itu.int
Aurore Bourdin
Media Relations Officer
International Telecommunication Union
Press line: +41 22 730 5192
E-mail: pressinfo@itu.int
Sophia Crabbe-Field
Communications and Content Lead
World Benchmarking Alliance
E-mail: press@worldbenchmarkingalliance.org
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