Ambitions
- In 2020 and beyond, Meta will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions for its global operations (scopes 1 and 2). Meta has set an ambitious goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain (scope 3) in 2030.
- Meta is committed to accelerating the renewable energy transition and has achieved 100% renewable energy for its global operations. To date, Meta has announced over 7,000 megawatts (MW) of new solar and wind projects to support its operations.
- Meta prioritizes water stewardship across its operations and says that its data centers are among the most efficient in the world. In 2021, Meta announced a goal to be water positive by 2030. This means Meta will return more water to the environment than the company consumed for its global operations.
Initiatives
- Since its first wind contract in 2013, Meta has contracted for over 7.0 GW of new solar and wind energy, all in the same power grids where its data centers are located. This is equivalent to powering more than 1.6 million U.S. households. Meta is one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy globally.
- Meta's investment in renewable energy provides significant contributions to local economies through capital expenditures, operating expenses, and direct wages. According to an RTI International study, during construction (2014–2022), these renewable energy projects will have supported over 40,000 jobs and $4.2 billion in GDP throughout the U.S. economy.
- Meta has invested in water restoration projects that will replenish more than 850 million gallons of water per year. In regions experiencing high levels of water stress, these projects already restored about 595 million gallons of water in 2020. These water restoration projects offer significant benefits both to local communities and their surrounding ecosystems, particularly in water stressed regions.
Innovations
Meta believes that addressing and adapting to the impacts of climate change will require new and innovative solutions. That’s why it is researching MW and developing new products and technologies to create a more sustainable world.
- In 2019, Meta launched the Climate Conversation Map, which enables researchers and partners to identify and map conversations on climate change around the world. This map will help organizations better understand where, when, and how Meta users are interacting with climate-related news.
- In 2020, the company launched the Climate Science Center on Facebook to help increase access to science-based and dynamic climate information to grow awareness and inspire more people to take action. Meta partnered with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its global network of climate science contributors to present facts, figures, and data. The Climate Science Center has highlighted contributors, including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
- In 2021, in partnership with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Meta developed the Climate Change Opinion Survey to better understand public views on climate change. The data, gathered in 31 countries and territories, is available to external researchers through Facebook’s Data For Good program.
For more information, visit https://sustainability.atmeta.com.
