The iMasons Climate Accord (ICA) and major hyperscalers are coming together to push for better reporting on the carbon impact of data centers, with a particular emphasis on capturing Scope 3 emissions through the adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). This joint effort aims to drive standardized reporting and disclosure across the industry, ultimately reducing the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure.
The ICA, a program of Infrastructure Masons, has issued an open letter calling on all suppliers serving data centers to support greater transparency in Scope 3 emissions, which make up a significant portion of the overall carbon footprint of data centers. EPDs, which outline the greenhouse gas emissions of a product throughout its lifecycle, are seen as a crucial tool in transforming the future of digital infrastructure to be more resilient and climate positive.
The Governing Body of the ICA, comprised of industry giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Meta, Digital Realty, and Schneider Electric, stresses the importance of widespread adoption of EPDs to enable informed, responsible choices that align with sustainability goals. By advocating for EPDs, these companies aim to empower the industry to make decisions that support net-zero emissions goals and drive progress toward a more sustainable and transparent data center industry.
One of the key challenges facing the industry is a lack of vendors producing EPDs and making them available for data center owners and operators. This shortage hampers the industry’s ability to procure lower-carbon materials and equipment, as well as to accurately reflect vendor emissions reductions to key stakeholders. The iMasons Climate Accord and its partners are working to address this challenge by rallying support from suppliers to accelerate decarbonization efforts.
Hyperscalers have already implemented strategies to reduce operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2), but the focus is now shifting to Scope 3 emissions, which can make up a large percentage of a data center’s total carbon footprint. By advocating for EPDs and promoting industry-wide adoption, companies like Google, Meta, AWS, and others are taking a decisive step towards meeting their sustainability ambitions and driving progress towards a more sustainable future for the digital infrastructure sector.
The collective commitment of the industry’s major players to achieving net-zero carbon emissions demonstrates a shared responsibility for mitigating data center carbon emissions. By aligning with net-zero emissions goals and leveraging EPDs to inform procurement decisions, these companies are leading the way in decarbonizing the digital infrastructure industry and setting a new standard for transparency and sustainability.
Overall, the joint effort by the iMasons Climate Accord and major hyperscalers to push for greater transparency and standardized reporting on the carbon impact of data centers marks a significant milestone in the industry’s journey towards sustainability. With a focus on reducing embodied carbon emissions and driving meaningful change across the digital infrastructure ecosystem, this initiative sets a new standard for responsible and environmentally conscious practices in the data center industry.
Datacenter Frontier: iMasons Climate Accord Unites Major Hyperscalers for Better Reporting on Data Center Carbon Impact – Data Center Frontier