Introduction Empowering individuals Working together Operating sustainably Governance and engagement Appendix 2023 Environmental Repo爀琀 Recycling points Sharing other actionable information The journey People recognize that recycling plays a crucial role in preserving the future of our planet; global searches for ahead Outside of home energy and transpo爀琀ation, individuals Climate change “recycling” are the highest of any sustainability action. 45 can make other sustainable choices that add up to create While a single individual’s actions may seem small, when a positive impact. This includes understanding local air information In 2021, we launched a new feature that makes it easier for billions of people have the tools to make more sustainable quality, accessing climate change information, identifying people to 昀椀nd nearby recycling points on Search and Maps. decisions, they add up to have a meaningful impact on nearby recycling locations, or purchasing pre-owned items. In addition to providing information on recycling depots We’re making it easier for people to 昀椀nd climate change their communities and the entire planet. information. When people search for “climate change” and waste transfer stations, we’re also helping small businesses share when they o昀昀er in-store recycling. By in ce爀琀ain languages, they’ll see information panels and Air quality We’re excited by the oppo爀琀unity to enable climate and adding the new recycling a琀琀ribute to Business Pro昀椀les on visuals on the causes and e昀昀ects of climate change, and Search and Maps, local storefronts and shops can show environmental action far beyond Google’s direct impact, individual actions they can take to live more sustainably, through information and innovation. Air quality around the world is being negatively impacted provided by authoritative sources like the United Nations. the recycling services they o昀昀er in just a few clicks— by air pollution and increasingly severe wild昀椀res. We’ve whether it’s for plastic bo琀琀les, packaging, or electronics. LEARN MORE added a new Air Quality feature in Google Search and We’re also engaging with individuals on climate and other Maps that shows the air quality conditions for the day, environmental topics via YouTube. On Ea爀琀h Day 2022, Pre-owned items • Empowering with technology whether it’s unusually smoggy or dangerously smoky. we launched a Non-Fungible Planet campaign, where we • Google Maps eco-friendly routing Available in cities in the U.S., Singapore, Brazil, and Chile, teamed up with environmental non-pro昀椀ts, creators, and Global search interest in “slow fashion” reached among other locations, this data can help people consider other organizations to show what makes Ea爀琀h so special • Searching for sustainability with Google a 15-year high in 2022. 46 And global searches for their activities for the day, including whether to stay and wo爀琀h protecting. They journeyed to one-of-a-kind “thri昀琀ing” have nearly tripled over the most recent • Suppo爀琀ing a clean energy future with Nest Renew indoors. locales and created videos to highlight the stress our three-year period compared to the previous three-year environment is under and what we can do to help. In 2022, • The search for sustainability 47 48 Google Maps and Waze both suppo爀琀 user ale爀琀s for period, reaching a 15-year high in 2022. The apparel YouTube also held our 昀椀rst ever Creators for Climate Action clean air zones. A clean air zone is a designated summits, one in New York and one with TED Countdown industry is responsible for nearly 7% of global carbon emissions, so clothing choices have a big impact on urban area with high air pollution where measures are in London. 49 reducing both waste and emissions. implemented to improve air quality, such as charging an entry fee to drivers of high-emissions vehicles. If a To stay safe during extreme weather events, people o昀琀en Buying pre-owned items is a small action people can route crosses a clean air zone, the driver will be ale爀琀ed to turn to the internet with questions. For example, global take to live more sustainably. In 2022, we launched add a permit if they own one, then eligible routes will be search interest in “heat waves” reached an all-time enhancements to the Google Shopping experience in suggested for them based on that pass. 44 high in July 2022. To su爀昀ace authoritative and helpful the United States for pre-owned products, such as used information in these moments, we’re providing information and refurbished products. through Search ale爀琀s on 昀氀ooding, wild昀椀re boundaries, and extreme heat. More details on how AI enables these ale爀琀s can be found in the Working together section. 19
