Australia – Scope3, a sustainability platform focused on decarbonising media and advertising, has secured $25m in new funding, led by Google Ventures (GV), to extend its efforts into the rapidly growing AI sector.
The new investment will help Scope3 continue to promote sustainability in the media and advertising industries while addressing the environmental impact the booming AI industry brings.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the rapid adoption of AI is generating substantial environmental impact, with training a single AI model consuming vast energy and emitting significant carbon. Companies are under pressure to deploy AI while meeting climate goals, often without clear solutions to control emissions.
Amid rising concerns over AI’s long-term environmental impact, Scope3 is stepping in to help businesses balance sustainability with AI-driven innovation. The platform is now extending its proven methods for decarbonising the media and advertising supply chain to address the carbon footprint of AI.
“The most innovative companies in the world are considering sustainable AI practices that address environmental concerns while delivering real business value. Scope3 has the talent, technology, and expertise needed to decarbonise the media and advertising industry,” said Erik Nordlander, general partner at GV.
“We’ve seen the impact Brian O’Kelley and the Scope3 team have had on the advertising and marketing supply chain, and we’re excited to double down on our investment based on the traction we’ve seen. We’re proud to deepen our partnership with Brian and support Scope3’s mission as we move toward a more sustainable future,” he added.
Scope3’s funding round saw participation from existing investors Venrock, Room40 Ventures, and Craft Ventures, alongside new backers Aperiam Ventures and Virgo Strategic Investments.
Along with the funding, Scope3 also unveiled its open-source AI methodology, which tracks the environmental impact of the entire AI lifecycle. This tool helps companies develop data-driven strategies to reduce carbon footprints and optimise their AI investments.
Brian O’Kelley, co-founder and CEO of Scope3, explained, “AI and the media industry are soon going to be indistinguishable. The biggest AI players are monetising through advertising, just like the search giants before them, and every marketer is using AI to create the content that fuels their campaigns. That’s why extending our methodology to capture the climate impact of AI is imperative, both for our business and the industry as a whole.”
Since its 2021 launch, Scope3 has pioneered sustainable digital media, providing tools to help the media and advertising industries reduce carbon emissions without compromising ROI or business success. In fact, thousands of brands, including Coca-Cola, GM, Mastercard, and Sanofi, use Scope3 to decarbonise their media, avoiding nearly 3,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions in 18 months.
