Eric Schmidt is ahead of the rest in climate advocacy, but Google scores poorly on transparency about its own climate emissions. Read the details or do something about it.
Oct 2009 Greenpeace Assessment
Summary: 33/100
Google is the top scoring company on climate advocacy, and CEO Eric Schmidt can articulate one of the most advanced corporate visions for long-term development of the renewable energy economy needed to tackle climate change. Google's position as a climate leader is considerably undermined, however, as it is one of the very few leading technology companies not to disclose its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Public Climate Speech: 7/10
Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke at length in November 2008 on the failure of the current political system and the need to get the right policies to drive transformative investment in clean energy technologies. Such technologies will create long-term economic growth while drastically reducing GHG emissions and dependence on foreign oil, as well as focusing on the dangerous distractions of so-called clean coal and nuclear power, which take funding away from renewables.
However, during more recent opportunities, such as at Pittsburgh during the 2009 G20 Summit, Schmidt has not taken advantage of the opportunity to promote this vision or to speak up on the need for a strong deal in Copenhagen.
Political Advocacy: 17/25
Google is the strongest company on climate advocacy and gains most of its points in this category. Senior executives have testified to Congress to promote stronger climate regulation in the US. Google also scores the highest (7 out of 10) for repeating it's strong advocacy position in the US. Google should use its influence with the Obama administration to advocate for a strong deal at the Copenhagen climate summit.
Climate Solutions: 7/50
Google launched Powermeter in February 2009 as a tool to help consumers provide real-time data to better manage home-energy use but to date has not released any significant case studies on how this can reduce overall GHG emissions. In-depth analysis of possible savings from plugin hybrids under the Recharge IT program provides a good example of how to measure actual overall impacts of climate solutions. Google can improve its score by applying a rigorous methodology to future case studies of the impact of Powermeter.
Own Emissions Target: 0/10
Google has no emission reduction targets and did not release or disclose its own emission levels. This lack of transparency on its own emissions puts Google significantly out of step with most other technology companies. Google claims to be carbon neutral, buying offset credits to compensate. Carbon neutral or not, the complete lack of transparency and the fact that its current investments in infrastructure are changing energy policy on the ground in communities as they are being built threaten to undermine its credibility as a climate leader.
Renewable Energy Use: 1/5
Google scores one out of five for investing in renewable energy research. It does not, however, have an overall target to increase renewables use. With a rapidly growing business, Google is a big electricity user and while it certainly faces challenges in securing renewable energy to match its growth, more transparency on the issues of renewables use would be an important advance.
See also
Take Action
Leave Google some feedback on GetSatisfaction.com
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Stuck for something to write? Try posting a question about Google's own emissions target, or suggest that Eric Schmidt ask Obama to go to Copenhagen. Few people in the world are as close to president Obama's administration as Google's CEO is. The assessment report above is full of details you could refer to.
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Related blog: November 11, 2009: Getting to Google with GetSatisfaction.com
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