The Mouvement Ecologique supports the positions of Beyond Fossil Fuels and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) regarding the planned revision of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) “Scope 2” guidelines.
What sounds technical and complex is in fact highly relevant for the energy consumption of major tech companies, including Google.
The reporting rules for emissions from electricity consumption, in place for more than a decade, are no longer adequate: they do not reflect real emissions and do not ensure effective decarbonisation of electricity systems.
Under current rules, companies can continue to consume electricity largely produced from fossil fuels while simultaneously claiming “zero emissions” through certificates purchased from distant facilities. This remains possible even when their additional electricity demand drives the construction of new fossil power plants. For example, the energy demand of a new Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) data centre in Louisiana is being met by building a new gas-fired power plant. The existing Greenhouse Gas Protocol rules thus allow companies to “clean up” their emission balance on paper.
The Mouvement Ecologique therefore fully supports the reform demands expressed in the letter, in particular:
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local attribution of renewable electricity, ensuring that companies’ claims of renewable energy use actually translate into emission reductions in the grids they use;
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hourly matching of generation and consumption to demonstrate that energy is produced where and when it is needed. Companies should also invest in production and storage capacities to cover hours when renewable energy is currently less available.
Clean electricity used for Scope 2 claims must come from new or recently refurbished facilities to ensure that rising electricity demand – especially from large tech companies – does not lead to new fossil capacity or shift costs onto society. Major companies should invest in the additional expansion of renewable energy to push fossil fuels out of the grids.
An ambitious reform of the Scope 2 rules is a key lever for credible climate action, fair electricity prices and an efficient energy transition.
For the full position paper and the organisations’ demands: HERE