Yes. Amazon reported that its absolute greenhouse-gas emissions fell 3% in 2023, to 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). But the decrease was not uniform: Scope 1 emissions rose 7%, while Scope 2 fell 11%. Bloomberg reported that reduced spending on warehouses and cloud data centers, amid a post-pandemic pullback, contributed to lower emissions from capital goods.
Did Amazon’s carbon emissions fall in 2023?
Amazon’s 2023 Sustainability Report, published in 2024, put the company’s absolute emissions at 68.82 million metric tons of CO2e, a 3% decline from 2022. These are figures Amazon reported for its own emissions inventory; they should not be read as an independently verified finding.
Amazon described the change this way: “In 2023, we lowered our carbon footprint by 3% alongside our carbon intensity which decreased 13%.” The statement reflects the company’s account of its results.
Which emissions categories rose or fell?
The overall decline masks different directions across emissions scopes. Amazon reported a 7% increase in Scope 1 emissions and an 11% decrease in Scope 2. A search-result excerpt for Amazon’s report also states Scope 3 emissions fell 5%; consult the full report for scope definitions and methodology before drawing more detailed conclusions.
#1 Best Overall
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| Measure | Reported 2023 change |
|---|---|
| Absolute emissions | Down 3%, to 68.82 million metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 1 emissions | Up 7% |
| Scope 2 emissions | Down 11% |
| Scope 3 emissions | Down 5%, as stated in a search-result excerpt for Amazon’s report |
Amazon’s report is the source for the total and Scope 1 and 2 figures: Amazon 2023 Sustainability Report. The Scope 3 figure is also attributed to the report, but appears in the available search-result excerpt.
Why did Amazon’s emissions go down?
Bloomberg’s contemporaneous reporting linked part of the decline to reduced capital-goods emissions. It said Amazon cut spending on new warehouses and cloud-computing data centers as it worked through a pandemic-era surplus of warehouse capacity; capital-goods emissions fell 13% in 2023, according to Bloomberg.
Rank #2
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
This provides business context for one contributor, not a complete explanation of every change in Amazon’s inventory. Bloomberg’s account is available at Bloomberg News.
What is carbon intensity, and how is it different?
Absolute emissions measure the total amount of greenhouse gases reported. Carbon intensity relates emissions to business activity, so it can move differently from the total as a company’s activity changes. Amazon reported an intensity value of 80.8 for 2023, down from 93.0 in 2022, and described that as a 13% decrease.
Rank #3
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- Simple smart home control: Set routines, pair and control lights, locks, and thousands of smart home devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature or presence detection.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot Max doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
A lower intensity value does not, by itself, establish that total emissions fell. In Amazon’s 2023 account, both the intensity measure and absolute emissions declined, but they answer different questions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the 2023 decline show Amazon’s emissions are still falling?
No conclusion about the direction after 2023 follows from this one-year disclosure. Amazon’s report index lists 2024 and 2025 reports; the 2023 figures are historical, not a current emissions update. See Amazon’s sustainability reporting index for newer reports.
Quick Recap
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Rank #4
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Do more with device pairing – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, or create a home theatre system with Fire TV.
- Say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering - With eero Built-in, Echo Dot doubles as a mesh wifi extender, adding up to 1,000 sq. ft. of wifi coverage to your existing eero network.
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