‘Hold us accountable’ on data centers, Amazon sustainability chief says

Amazon's chief sustainability officer, Kara Hurst, has called on the company to "do better" in communicating the environmental impact of its expanding data center network amid mounting opposition in the US and Europe. At an event in New York, Hurst acknowledged that the company has faced criticism for its data center projects and acknowledged that there are areas where Amazon has fallen short.

To address these concerns, Amazon is revising its practices and calling for greater transparency and accountability in its operations. The company's carbon footprint expanded for the second consecutive year in 2025 as it accelerated its data center expansion, investing $220 billion in capital expenditures in 2026. However, this growth has been met with local opposition, with data center projects worth $68 billion delayed or blocked due to community opposition between April and June this year.

Hurst emphasized that local communities should benefit from these investments, receiving workforce development, upskilling, and economic opportunities. While there is currently no mandatory reporting framework in the US for data center environmental impact, Hurst believes that voluntary reporting offers advantages over mandated disclosure.

She argued that it allows companies to publish data, subject it to scientific review, and refine methodologies as needed, rather than being locked into potentially flawed standards. Despite Amazon's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, Hurst noted that emissions are expected to rise in the short term due to the rapid pace of data center construction.