## SBTi Retreats on Data Center Carbon Rules: Climate Watchdog Drops Stricter Net-Zero Limits After Heavy Tech Lobbying
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has abandoned proposed rules that would have restricted how technology companies account for gas-fueled data centers within their clean energy investment claims, according to sources familiar with the matter. The corporate climate watchdog's decision to drop the stricter framework follows what sources describe as intense pressure from major technology firms, including Meta, that stood to face greater scrutiny over their net-zero commitments. The retreat marks a significant concession to an industry whose data center operations have drawn increasing attention from climate advocates and regulators.

The proposed rules would have limited the ability for companies to use renewable energy certificates or carbon offsets to claim that power-hungry facilities running on fossil gas meet clean energy standards. SBTi had been developing the framework as part of broader efforts to tighten verification standards for corporate climate pledges, responding to growing concerns that net-zero claims by major technology firms obscure the real carbon footprint of their expanding data center infrastructure. Sources indicate the lobbying effort centered on arguments that the proposed restrictions were too narrow and would hinder legitimate energy transition strategies.

The development raises fresh questions about the credibility of voluntary corporate climate frameworks and the influence major technology companies wield over the organizations meant to hold them accountable. SBTi, which provides what it describes as science-based targets for corporate emissions reductions, has faced mounting pressure as investors and regulators demand greater transparency around data center energy consumption and its associated carbon emissions. The withdrawal of the proposed rules signals ongoing tension between the pace of regulatory development and the rapidly expanding energy demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations.
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- **Source**: Techmeme Echo RSS
- **Sector**: The Vault
- **Tags**: SBTi, climate-watchdog, tech-lobbying, data-centers, net-zero
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-05-14 05:48:26
- **ID**: 82911
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/82911