Sustainability Reporting

Energy, water and emissions disclosure · Flagship: the EU data center database and labels

Data center emissions are rising as reporting rules split: Europe is tightening while US federal rules retreat. Microsoft's emissions rose 25% in 2025; the EU now collects PUE and water data from every large site and will grade them A to G from 2027.

Hyperscaler emissions rose in 2025: Microsoft up 25% to 20.3 million tonnes, Google up 18% and Amazon up 16% to 80.8 million tonnes; and Europe's data center rules: the EU database of 776 sites averaging PUE 1.36, Germany's PUE limits of 1.5 by 2027 and 1.3 by 2030, and A-G labels from 2027 HYPERSCALER EMISSIONS CHANGE, 2025 vs. 2024 +0% +10% +20% +30% Microsoft20.3M tonnes+25% Google~14.5M tonnes+18% Amazon80.8M tonnes+16% EUROPE REGULATES PUE EU average, reported776 sites, 6.4 GW1.36 Germany, existing sitesby July 20271.5 Germany, existing sitesby July 20301.3 Germany, new sitesfrom July 20261.2 PUE: total facility energy divided by IT energy; 1.0 is perfect.
Microsoft emissions
+25%
EU average PUE
1.36
EU labels
From 2027
Germany, 2030
PUE 1.3
Hub
Operations

What it is

Reporting Energy, Water and Emissions

Sustainability reporting is how data center energy, water and emissions get disclosed, by law in Europe and California and voluntarily elsewhere.

  • Emissions are rising: Microsoft's emissions rose 25% in 2025 to 20.3 million tonnes, Google's 18% and Amazon's 16%, all driven by data center construction and power.
  • US rules retreat: the SEC proposed rescinding its climate rule in May 2026 and California's climate-risk law is enjoined; California's emissions law, SB 253, took effect with first reports in August 2026.
  • Europe tightens: the EU now collects site-level data and will label data centers A to G; Germany sets PUE limits by law.
  • Local air permits: SpaceXSI's Colossus turbines in Memphis and Southaven run under county and state permits that environmental groups are challenging. See Onsite Gas.

Flagship

The EU's Data Centre Database and Labels

  • Database: under the Energy Efficiency Directive, every EU data center of 500 kW or more reports PUE, water, energy and renewables each year. The first results covered 776 sites in 18 countries, 6.4 GW of IT capacity and 16.7 TWh, at an average PUE of 1.36.
  • Labels: in September 2026 the European Commission adopted a rating scheme that grades each site A to G on PUE and water use, with first labels due August 2027.
  • US operators: AWS, Microsoft, Google, Equinix and Digital Realty sites in Europe all fall under it. See Resource Usage (PUE).

Rules

Reporting Laws and Programs

Sustainability reporting rules
RuleWhat it requiresStatus
EU Energy Efficiency Directive reportingSites report PUE, water, energy and renewables to an EU database; first results: 776 sites, PUE 1.36In force
EU data center ratingA-G labels for PUE and water for sites of 500 kW+; first labels August 2027Proposed September 2026
Germany Energy Efficiency ActPUE 1.5 by 2027 and 1.3 by 2030; 1.2 for new sites; amendment would relaxEnacted; amendment proposed
EU CSRD after Omnibus IOnly firms with 1,000+ staff and €450M+ turnover; first reports 2028Enacted March 2026
California SB 253Scope 1 and 2 emissions for firms with $1B+ revenue; first reports August 2026Enacted
California SB 261Climate-risk reportsEnjoined November 2025
SEC climate ruleNational climate disclosureRescission proposed May 2026
China data center action planAverage PUE below 1.5 by end of 2025; renewables up 10% a yearIn force
Colossus turbine permits15 permanent turbines in Memphis; 41 in Southaven; challenged by SELCIssued

Record

Dataset Record

Dataset
Sustainability reporting rules and hyperscaler emissions
Sources
European Commission, DatacenterDynamics, Latham & Watkins, Orrick, DLA Piper, CARB via Miller Nash and Cooley, Dechert, NDRC, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Shelby County Health Department, Mississippi DEQ, SELC
Last verified
October 2026