IBM — full event log
Every event we have on file across every reporting year. The Data-by-year tab summarises the top 10 per year; this page shows them all.
← back to Data by year2024· 15 events
Methodology modified in 2024 to include Red Hat and global IBM workforce. Reported value rose from 15,000 to 234,000 tCO2e.
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Goal of 20% improvement in data center cooling efficiency vs 2019 base year by 2025. Achieved 25.5% in 2024.
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Goal: 90% of nonhazardous waste diverted from landfill or incineration by 2025. Achieved 94.4% in 2024.
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Starting reporting year 2024, the use-of-sold-products calculation was modified to account for emissions over the whole expected product lifetime (previously 12-month period), assume continuous 24/7 utilization at peak power, and excludes data-center overhead. Result: reported Cat 11 emissions jumped from 297,000 tCO2e (2023) to 2,213,000 tCO2e (2024).
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Starting 2024, reported business travel values include railroad and hotels in addition to air travel and rental cars. Reported value rose from 117,000 to 277,000 tCO2e.
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Both market-based and location-based Scope 2 emissions have been restated to include emissions associated with electricity at co-location data centers (previously reported as Scope 3 Cat 1 Purchased goods and services).
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Bureau Veritas conducted an external limited assurance audit of IBM's 2024 GHG emissions inventory and the underlying data and calculation processes.
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IBM goal: renewable electricity procurement as % of total electricity consumption — 75% by 2025 and 90% by 2030. Achieved 79.6% in 2024, exceeding 2025 goal.
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IBM goal: 65% reduction in operational GHG emissions vs 2010 base year by 2025. Achieved 77.1% reduction in 2024.
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IBM procures renewable electricity through contracted purchases and renewable electricity that automatically comes via routine grid power. Renewable electricity reached 79.6% of total electricity consumption in 2024, ahead of the 75%-by-2025 goal, with a 90%-by-2030 target. IBM notes that timing mismatch between renewable generation and consumption means some delivered electricity may still be fossil-generated, though net procurement equals claimed amounts.
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IBM targets a 20% improvement in data center cooling efficiency vs 2019 base year by 2025; achieved 25.5% improvement in 2024, exceeding the goal.
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Total operational energy consumption declined from 2,529,000 MWh (2020) to 2,236,000 MWh (2024). Combined with renewable electricity procurement, this drove operational GHG emissions down 77.1% vs 2010 base year, exceeding the 65%-by-2025 goal.
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IBM's largest Scope 3 category by far. Methodology overhauled in 2024 to capture whole-lifetime emissions of hardware sold during the year, assuming 24/7 peak-power utilization. Reported emissions jumped from 297,000 to 2,213,000 tCO2e, reflecting more conservative accounting rather than absolute increase. IBM continues to focus on lower-emissions vehicle leasing (Cat 8) where it sets standard guidelines requiring lower-emission vehicle leasing.
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Business travel emissions reported at 277,000 tCO2e in 2024, up from 117,000 in 2023 — increase reflects methodology expansion to include rail and hotels alongside air and rental cars. IBM tracks this as a discrete Scope 3 category.
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94.4% of nonhazardous waste diverted from landfill/incineration in 2024, exceeding the 90%-by-2025 goal. Waste-to-energy capped at 8.6%, within the firm's <10% limit. End-of-life product waste sent to landfill or incineration at 0.7%, well within the 3% combined limit.
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