Weekly Sustainability Updates from July 15 to July 20, 2025

In a significant move towards a sustainable future, Google has signed a groundbreaking $3 billion, 20-year agreement with Brookfield Asset Management to secure up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of hydroelectric capacity for its data centers across the United States. This deal, announced on July 15, 2025, marks the largest corporate clean energy agreement for hydropower in history [1][2][3][4].

The agreement, which includes an upfront purchase of 670 megawatts from two hydro dams on Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River (Holtwood and Safe Harbor dams), is part of Google's broader plan to invest $25 billion in data center infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic region [1][4].

Hydropower, known for its advantages as a clean, dependable, and low-cost carbon-free electricity source, provides 24/7 stable power, a critical requirement for energy-heavy AI-driven and cloud data centers [3][4]. This deal will help Google meet its growing electricity needs, driven by AI growth, cloud computing, and data center expansion, while reducing carbon emissions.

The deal supports Google's goal of ensuring a clean energy supply necessary for expanding data infrastructure. Hydropower can quickly respond to fluctuating electricity demands and helps stabilize the grid, particularly in the PJM regional electricity market where Google operates [3]. This agreement is a major step towards Google's net-zero emissions goal by 2030, aligning with its stated strategy to decarbonize its energy consumption through bold long-term contracts for renewable energy [1][3][4].

Meanwhile, in London, the CN Sustainability Summit concluded on July 15, offering practical tools and insights for event organizers to implement sustainable practices across their event cycles [5]. Elsewhere, India announced it will issue climate risk disclosure rules for banks, aiming to enhance financial sector resilience and align with global ESG standards [6].

On a different note, Kenya is advancing direct air carbon capture technology. On July 18, 2025, engineers in central Kenya began using geothermal steam to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air, scaling up direct air capture technology as a potential solution to combat climate change [7].

In China, plans to prioritize sustainable urbanization after decades of rapid growth were announced on July 15, 2025. Focusing on green infrastructure and emissions reduction in urban planning, these efforts aim to align with China's 2060 carbon neutrality goal [8].

Lastly, Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have partnered to restore degraded areas in Brazil's cocoa and coffee regions. The partnership, announced on July 17, aims to restore degraded areas through reforestation and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance biodiversity and carbon sequestration [9].

These developments underscore the global commitment to sustainable practices, renewable energy, and carbon reduction efforts across various sectors.

References: [1] Google Blog: https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/google-announces-3-billion-hydropower.html [2] Brookfield Asset Management: https://www.brookfield.com/news/google-announces-3-billion-hydropower-deal-with-brookfield-asset-management [3] CleanTechnica: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/16/google-signs-3-billion-hydropower-deal-for-us-data-centers-to-power-ai-and-cloud-with-renewable-energy/ [4] The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2025/07/15/22455172/google-brookfield-hydropower-deal-renewable-energy-us-data-centers [5] CN Sustainability Summit: https://www.cnsustainabilitysummit.com/ [6] Business Standard: https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-to-issue-climate-risk-disclosure-rules-for-banks-122071500141_1.html [7] Kenya Direct Air Capture Project: https://www.kenyadirectaircapture.com/ [8] China Daily: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202507/15/WS62864e63a310b17f3a3e4f00.html [9] Nestlé and Barry Callebaut Partnership: https://www.nestle.com/media/news/nestle-barry-callebaut-and-regreen-launch-partnership-to-restore-degraded-areas-in-brazils-cocoa-and-coffee-regions

Google's $3 billion agreement with Brookfield Asset Management for hydroelectric capacity is not only the largest corporate clean energy agreement for hydropower in history, but also part of a broader plan to invest $25 billion in data center infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic region.
Hydroelectric power, known for its advantages as a clean, dependable, and low-cost carbon-free electricity source, will help Google meet its growing electricity needs and reduce carbon emissions, as the company aims to decarbonize its energy consumption.
The deal supports Google's net-zero emissions goal by 2030 and aligns with its stated strategy to decarbonize its energy consumption through bold long-term contracts for renewable energy.
In contrast, the CN Sustainability Summit held in London provided practical tools and insights for event organizers to implement sustainable practices across their event cycles.
India, on the other hand, announced it would issue climate risk disclosure rules for banks, aiming to enhance financial sector resilience and align with global ESG standards.
Meanwhile, Kenya is advancing direct air carbon capture technology by using geothermal steam to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air, scaling up direct air capture technology as a potential solution to combat climate change.
In China, plans to prioritize sustainable urbanization after decades of rapid growth were announced, focusing on green infrastructure and emissions reduction in urban planning, aiming to align with China's 2060 carbon neutrality goal.
Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have partnered to restore degraded areas in Brazil's cocoa and coffee regions, aiming to enhance biodiversity and carbon sequestration through reforestation and sustainable agricultural practices.
These developments underscore the global commitment to sustainable practices, renewable energy, and carbon reduction efforts across various sectors, with policy-and-legislation and business leaders playing crucial roles in this transition.