Big tech companies like Google, IBM underreport their carbon emission, reveals new study

A recent study released on Friday revealed that major techlogy companies including SAP, IBM and Google are indulged in misreporting ir greenhouse gas emissions. tably, report came at a time when investigative ncies have tightened scrutiny over role of corporations in driving climate change. 

Major tech companies fail to show actual data: Study

research published in journal Nature Communications claimed that major reputed companies showed inconsistency in declaring ir carbon footprints. It is worth mentioning that investigating ncies including, government always encourd se companies to follow carbon footprint. Despite repetitive warning by several ncies, major techlogy firms failed to report actual data, ted researchers.  

researchers at Technical University of Munich said that y have studied so-called scope 3 emissions that account for a large portion of corporate carbon footprints, such as business travel, employee commuting and how companies’ products are used. 

researchers said y investigated at least 56 major tech companies of which half had failed to disclose ir actual carbon emission to concerned authority. 

"Some companies — such as Google’s parent Alphabet — were found to have been consistent in how y reported ir carbon footprint, but excluded some emissions that should have been counted," said Christian Stoll, one of authors engd in study. 

Tech firms need to improve ir carbon emissions: Experts

According to researchers, companies such as IBM had reported ir carbon emission as per ir audience and also excluded a major criterion that falls under most carbon-emitting factor. Meanwhile, when Associated Press (AP) tried to connect with Google and IBM for ir response, y did t respond to ir emails and calls.  authors suggested ways in which companies can improve ir emissions reporting. Meanwhile, senior manr of corporate greenhouse gas emissions at nprofit business research firm Ceres, Laura Draucker said she agreed with conclusion of research and added tech companies need to improve a lot in terms of carbon emission.

"However, we cant wait for perfect data," said Draucker, who wasn’t involved in study. "Companies can use estimates and screening tools to identify hot spots for climate risk along ir value chain, and y can set goals and take actions w to meet those goals — while at same time, working to improve data collection and quality."

(With inputs from AP)

(Im: Unsplash)