environment
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Equinix is committed to preserving our collective future and tackling pressing environmental challenges to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of our business, communities, and global society. By setting ambitious carbon emissions reduction targets to address climate change, partnering with like-minded companies and organizations to advance low-carbon policies, sharing renewable energy buying knowledge to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy grids, and pioneering green buildings and design innovations throughout our data centers, we are doing what it takes to protect the planet and create long term value for our stakeholders.
Our Environmental Commitments
Equinix is advancing a bold environmental agenda through a range of commitments:
Addressing the Urgency of Climate Change Through our Targets
- Achieving our science-based targets of reducing Scope 1, 2 carbon emissions by 2030 and influencing our suppliers on Scope 3 by 2025.
- Becoming climate-neutral across our global operations by 2030.
- Supporting the European Commission’s continental goals through our alignment with the EU Climate Neutral Data Centre Operator Pact.
- Allocating funds to deliver sustainable outcomes across our business; and leveraging green finance to propel our investments in greening our footprint.
Scaling Renewable Energy Purchasing
- Reaching our goal of 100% clean and renewable energy usage across our global portfolio by 2030.
Designing the Sustainable Data Center of the Future and Investing in Innovation
- Designing, building and operating sustainable data centers planned holistically to reduce our consumption of all resources.
- Leveraging technology and innovation to encourage commercialization of solutions that will enable the “Data Center of the Future” for both ourselves and our industry.
- Building and maintaining healthy and sustainable office settings for our employees.
Assessing and Mitigating Climate Risk
- Recognizing and mitigating the key risks of climate change on Equinix’s business value proposition.
Advocating for Change and Inspiring Others
- Partnering with like-minded organizations to advance environmental and climate change policies and accelerate action and innovation on key priorities such as renewable energy.
2030
global climate neutral
First data center company to make a global commitment to reach climate neutral across its operations
Science-based target
Validated science-based target for operations and supply chain emissions
EU Climate
Neutral Data
Centre Pact
Drove data center alignment and self-regulation of EU sustainability requirements
95%
renewable
Fourth year in a row +90% renewable energy achieved globally toward our 100% goal
$4.9B*
green bonds
Issued since 2020, with $2.9B allocated towards green buildings, renewable energy and efficiency projects
A-CDP Climate
Change
Score
Second year in a row at A- level demonstrating leadership and transparency on climate risk
$25M
invested in efficiency
Driving operational excellence and energy demand reduction in 2021
1.48
average annual PUE
Incremental improvement in Power Usage Effectiveness of 5.5% from 2020 to 2021
10M ft2
LEED certifications
Total data center area certified through USGBC LEED rating system
Key Environmental Metrics
Environmental Data: Energy and Emissions
| Metric | Units | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Consumption | GWh | 5,700 | 6,430 | 7,140 |
| Renewable Energy | GWh | 5,250 | 5,840 | 6,770 |
| % Renewable Energy | % | 92% | 91% | 95% |
| Energy Intensity | GWh / million USD | 1.028 | 1.077 | 1.084 |
| GHG Emissions: Scope 1 | mtCO2e | 40,700 | 55,100 | 50,700 |
| GHG Emissions: Scope 2 (location-based) | mtCO2e | 2,079,000 | 2,280,200 | 2,307,600 |
| GHG Emissions: Scope 2 (market-based) | mtCO2e | 306,000 | 327,700 | 254,800 |
| Carbon Intensity (location-based) | mtCO2e / million USD | 381 | 389 | 355 |
| Carbon Intensity (market-based) | mtCO2e / million USD | 62 | 64 | 46 |
Energy and emissions are assured to ISO 14064-3:2019 standards for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Accounting and Assurance
Equinix references the WRI/WBSCD Greenhouse Gas Protocol to calculate our carbon footprint. Our energy and renewable energy consumption, Scope 1, Scope 2 and most of our Scope 3 emissions are independently assured by Lucideon CICS to ISO 14064-3:2006 Standards for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information about our energy and emissions performance and response to climate change, refer to our annual CDP Climate change submissions.
To review Equinix’s annual CDP Climate Change disclosure, download it below.
Climate Commitments
Equinix will achieve its science-based targets and reach climate neutral by 2030
Scaling Renewable Energy
Equinix has a long-term goal to use 100% clean and renewable energy
Design and Innovate for the Environment
Equinix designs, builds and operates sustainable data centers and engages in green financing opportunities
Healthy and Sustainable Offices
Sustainability is embedded in our corporate office initiatives
Advocacy and Inspiration
Advocacy is a hallmark of our strategy as we leverage the buying power of many companies