- Amazon's carbon footprint rose 19% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
- Amazon says they've reached 65% renewable energy across the entire company.
- The company has pledged to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
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Amazon's overall carbon footprint rose 19% in 2020, the company said in its annual sustainability report released Wednesday outlining its progress to a net-zero carbon footprint.
For the year, Amazon's total carbon footprint was 60.64 million metric tons, compared to 51.17 million metric tons in 2019. The use of fossil fuels increased by 69%, while total carbon intensity decreased by 16%.
Amazon says the increase in emissions is due to the increase in customer demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By 2040, Amazon says it will be net-zero in regards to carbon emissions.
"We are relentlessly optimistic about the future," Kara Hurst, VP of Worldwide Sustainability, said in the report. "We know that crossing the finish line won't be easy, and there's still lots of exploring and inventing that needs to happen. But with passion and partnership, we believe we can build a better future together."
The company says it has reached 65% renewable energy in 2020 across the entire company. It's also purchased 100,000 electric vehicles from Rivian, which Amazon says will be on the road by 2030.
"We are proud of the progress we made toward our sustainability goals and commitments in 2020, a year of unprecedented challenges for our world," Amazon said. "Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked nonstop to make hundreds of changes to our operational processes to protect the health of our employees and communities."