Key Impact Points:
- Google aims to reach net zero emissions by 2030 and power all operations with 24/7 carbon-free energy.
- Adam Elman leads sustainability strategy across Google’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa operations, coordinating across real estate, supply chains, data centers, and products.
- Elman highlights AI as a critical tool to accelerate sustainability—both within Google and globally.
From Side Project to Strategy Core
Adam Elman, Director of Sustainability for Google EMEA, has nearly two decades of experience embedding sustainability into the world’s most influential businesses. He began his career at Marks & Spencer in the early 2000s, a pivotal time for the brand’s now-famous sustainability push.
“I was very lucky to be at Marks and Spencer back in the early 2000s when the company decided to get very serious about sustainability and I got to be part of the team that developed its sustainability programme,” Elman shared.
Now at Google, Elman sees a landscape transformed—where sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility add-on, but a core driver of innovation and opportunity.
“The exciting thing for me is that the sustainability space has really moved from what used to be a small team on the side of the business to really being integrated… there’s real opportunity here and it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Climate Goals with Global Reach
Google’s scale gives it unparalleled influence: it commands over 90% of the global search engine market and powers digital tools that billions use every day. That reach, says Elman, comes with responsibility—and potential.
“Google’s been working on this since the company was founded. We’re in our third decade of climate action and our programme and our plans are always evolving,” he said.
The company’s headline goals include achieving net zero by 2030 and transitioning to 24/7 carbon-free energy, meaning all operations run on locally sourced clean power every hour of every day.
AI for Sustainability Acceleration
As Google’s sustainability strategy matures, its focus has expanded beyond internal operations. Elman emphasized the company’s drive to enable sustainability at scale through technology.
“We’re also focused on building and working with others to use AI to help others on that journey,” he said.
That includes using AI to improve energy efficiency, optimize supply chains, and support partners in reaching their own climate goals.
Leadership Beyond the Corporate Perimeter
Adam Elman, a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of both ISEP and ICRS, also serves as an Executive Fellow at King’s Business School. Recognized among the UK’s top 100 environmental professionals and one of the world’s top 50 sustainability thought leaders, he remains committed to creating a more sustainable and inclusive future.
His work at Google is helping shape what that future looks like—not just for the company’s operations, but for the billions who interact with its tools every day.
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