Kate Brandt, CSO of Google: Circular Economy in Technology
As Chief Sustainability Officer of Google, Kate Brandt is driving the company’s mission to build a sustainable future through innovation and circular economy principles.
Under her leadership, Google has committed to operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030 and is reshaping the technology industry by embedding sustainability into its products, supply chains and data centres.
Kate’s career journey
Kate’s career in sustainability spans both the public and private sectors.
Before joining Google in 2015, she served as the United States’ first Federal Chief Sustainability Officer under President Obama, where she led sustainability efforts across federal agencies.
Her expertise in policy and corporate sustainability has positioned her as a thought leader in the intersection of technology and environmental responsibility.
Industry influence
Kate’s leadership is defined by an unwavering commitment to embedding sustainability into Google’s core operations.
She has played a crucial role in the company’s efforts to power its global operations with renewable energy, achieve zero waste to landfill and develop AI-driven solutions for environmental challenges.
Through her guidance, Google has significantly reduced its carbon footprint, with its data centres now operating 1.5 times more efficiently than the industry average.
As a globally recognised sustainability expert, Kate frequently speaks at major climate forums, including COP and the World Economic Forum.
She has been instrumental in shaping industry-wide commitments to carbon-free energy and circular supply chains, working closely with policymakers, businesses and NGOs to advance sustainable innovation in the tech sector.
Sustainability has truly been a core value since our founding over 20 years ago. We believe that every business has both the opportunity and the obligation to protect our planet. To that end, our mission for the program is striving to build sustainability into everything we do.
But also our goal is bigger than that. It’s about truly enabling everyone – businesses, policymakers and consumers – to live and create a more sustainable world together. Within that, we have a 5-year sustainability strategy that focuses on three core pillars: 1) accelerate the transition to carbon-free and circular economy; 2) empower users with our technology; and 3) benefit the people and places where we operate.
Vision for the Future
Kate envisions a future where technology plays a central role in solving global environmental challenges.
She is a strong advocate for leveraging AI to enhance resource efficiency and drive carbon reduction across industries.
Kate’s leadership at Google has set a new standard for corporate sustainability in the technology sector. Her pioneering efforts in renewable energy, circular economy initiatives and AI-driven environmental solutions cement her place as a transformative leader driving meaningful climate action.
Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand
