Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Sustainability in AWS Global Infrastructure (SUS204)

Summary

• Charlie Deitch, Director of Energy and Water Infrastructure at AWS, and Cornelia, leader of community engagement teams, discuss AWS's commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
• AWS's global infrastructure spans 96 availability zones in 30 geographic regions, with plans for expansion.
• The Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon, aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
• AWS focuses on energy efficiency, leveraging renewable energy, and reducing carbon in the supply chain to achieve sustainability goals.
• AWS's custom hardware, like Graviton3 processors and Inferentia chips, are designed for energy efficiency.
• AWS data centers use computational fluid dynamics for efficient design and operations, reducing cooling load by 20%.
• Migrating to AWS cloud can reduce customers' carbon footprint by 80%, expected to reach 96% as AWS moves to 100% renewable energy.
• AWS announced a Water Positive Goal to return more water to communities than used in direct operations by 2030.
• AWS is the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, with a portfolio of 380 projects, aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2025.
• AWS's renewable energy projects have a significant impact on carbon emissions, with a portfolio that will avoid 19 million metric tons of carbon annually.
• AWS uses software and machine learning to optimize the performance of its renewable energy portfolio.
• AWS addresses indirect emissions through construction materials and hardware supply chain, aiming for low-carbon cement and steel and efficient manufacturing.
• AWS in Communities program focuses on STEAM education, local technical upskilling, environmental stewardship, and employee engagement.
• AWS partners with organizations and educational institutions to support sustainability goals and community development projects globally.

Insights

• AWS's commitment to sustainability is not only about reducing its own carbon footprint but also about influencing its customers' sustainability through cloud services.
• The Climate Pledge demonstrates a trend where businesses are increasingly taking responsibility for climate action and setting ambitious goals beyond international agreements.
• AWS's focus on energy efficiency extends from the chip level to the design and operation of entire data centers, showcasing a holistic approach to sustainability.
• AWS's renewable energy initiatives are a key driver in the global shift towards renewable energy, influencing supply chains and energy markets.
• The Water Positive Goal indicates AWS's recognition of water as a critical resource and its commitment to sustainable water management.
• AWS's community engagement efforts, particularly in STEAM education and local upskilling, reflect a broader corporate responsibility strategy that extends beyond environmental sustainability to include social impact and workforce development.
• The use of machine learning and AI to optimize renewable energy performance illustrates how AWS leverages its own technologies to advance its sustainability goals.
• AWS's approach to addressing indirect emissions in its supply chain highlights the importance of considering the full lifecycle of products and materials in sustainability efforts.
• The global reach of AWS's community programs underscores the company's influence and potential to drive positive change in diverse regions around the world.