The Double Discourse of Big Tech: Analyzing Sustainability Initiatives and Fossil Fuel Engagement in Cloud Computing

Amid global climate change, the need for an ecological transition requiressignificant changes in energy consumption and production. With the growing awareness of environmental issues, policies are increasingly demanding enterprises to have positive effects on society’s social, ethical, and environmental aspects. As a result, Big Tech companies have announced their sustainability initiatives and heavily invested in renewable energy to reduce their cloud computing services’ carbon footprints. However, their simultaneous support for the oil and gas industry through cloud services creates contradictions that demand critical examination. Previous literature has extensively covered intellectual monopoly and the role of patents in innovation, often focusing on Big Tech'sinvolvement in either renewable energy or fossil fuels. However, these studies typically rely on qualitative data and secondary sources and lack quantitative analyses to substantiate their claims. Thisresearch fillsthis gap by analyzing data on cloud providers’ patents in both renewable energy and fossil fuel production, data on partnerships with oil and gas sector companies, and conducting interviews with industry experts. The discussion of Big Tech’s double discourse contributes to the broader topic of big technological companies’ social impact. Findings highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in corporate sustainability practices. The double discourse also contributes to shifting responsibility to other players and creating consumer lock-in through limited alternatives. This research contributes to discussions on corporate responsibility and the broader ethical considerations of technological advancements in environmental sustainability.