Meta’s AI and Innovation Blueprint for Net Zero Data Centres

Meta – the social technology company behind platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – is working to address the environmental impact of its operations.

With data centres and AI forming a critical part of its strategy, Meta is developing solutions to improve sustainability.

The scale of the challenge is significant as the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that data centres accounted for approximately 1.5% of global power consumption in 2024.

In recognition of its work, Meta was ranked 52nd in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025.

A core element of Meta's sustainability strategy is its goal to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain and to become water positive by 2030.

Meta has set a target to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2031 from a 2021 baseline.

It also aims not to exceed its baseline Scope 3 emissions by the end of the same year. As of 2024, wind and solar projects supported by Meta are contributing over 15GW of renewable energy to global grids.

To reach its net zero objective, Meta is focusing on improving access to new technologies such as innovative construction materials, clean energy sources and low-carbon fuels.

Targeting net zero emissions

Engaging with suppliers to encourage decarbonisation across their own operations is another key component of Meta's approach.

Leslie Collins, Global Head of Sustainability at Meta, explains: “Our sustainability team’s mission is to build safe and resilient communities in our global supply chain, enable water stewardship in our operations and the watersheds where we operate and comply with applicable regulations and commitments. We look to achieve our mission by harnessing our collective effort to drive positive impact, operating with purpose and responsibility and fostering a more sustainable future for all.”

Meta has invested heavily in creating infrastructure to support current and future AI needs using AI to inform more sustainable designs, operations and processes throughout the lifecycle of its data centres.

Newer data centre designs require fewer square feet to deliver a similar capacity to previous versions, which reduces both costs and delivery times.

According to Meta, in 2024, 91% of its owned data centre construction waste was diverted from landfills, and its electricity consumption was 100% matched with clean and renewable energy.

AI-powered sustainable data centre design

Meta’s approach to data centre sustainability has resulted in it receiving LEED Gold certification for all of its data centre buildings.

It currently holds 52 LEED Gold certified buildings, which is equivalent to nearly 36 million square feet.

Rachel Peterson, Vice President of Data Centres at Meta, says: “Beyond these efforts, we continue to look for innovative ways to manage the environmental footprint of our data centres. We’ve developed AI-optimised formulas to develop low-carbon concrete for our data centre construction and advanced mass timber pilots as well. I’m proud of our team’s work to advance these milestones for our business.”

In 2021, Meta also established a goal to be water positive by 2030, meaning it will return more water to the environment than it consumes operationally.

A large part of this initiative involves making its data centres, which are responsible for most of Meta's water usage, more efficient.

Meta plans to use drought-resistant plants in the landscaping around its facilities and install water-saving technologies inside.

Advancing water stewardship goals

To build long-term resilience, Meta employs digital twin models of its cooling systems. This technology allows Meta to generate estimates of its data centres' water usage, which in turn enables accurate water capacity planning and monitoring for regulatory compliance.

“Since 2017, we have been actively involved in more than 30 water restoration projects – including conservation projects that protect wildlife, water quality projects that reduce pollution and sanitation projects that support access to safe and affordable drinking water,” Leslie says.

“Water is a vital resource, and we believe that through corporate investment, cross-industry alliances and long-term NGO partnerships, we can help solve shared water challenges.”