- Digital Realty allocated $6 billion in green bonds, reinforcing its position as the largest US REIT issuer of green bonds.
- The green bond offerings support 130 projects worldwide, generating 2.8 million megawatt-hours of clean energy annually and mitigating 2.9 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions yearly.
- Digital Realty’s sustainability commitment includes joining the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and powering over 120 data centers worldwide with 100% renewable electricity.
Digital Realty, one of the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centers, colocation, and interconnection solutions, has successfully allocated $6.0 billion in green bonds to support sustainable growth.
The latest allocation, completed in January 2024, amounted to approximately EUR 290 million, reaffirming Digital Realty’s position as the largest US REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) issuer of green bonds. This marks the eighth bond allocation for Digital Realty since its inaugural issuance in 2015.
The green bond offerings have been instrumental in backing sustainable initiatives across 130 projects worldwide, spanning sustainably certified new data center construction to renewable energy and efficiency projects. The estimated impact of this portfolio facilitates the annual generation of 2.8 million megawatt-hours of clean energy, saving 2.2 billion gallons of water, and mitigating 2.9 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
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Digital Realty has developed its own green bond framework, aligning with the ICMA Green Bond Principles and the GRESB Green Bond Guidelines for the Real Estate Sector, to ensure the credibility and transparency of its sustainable activities. This framework has undergone independent review and validation by a third-party consultant.
“Green bonds enable Digital Realty to align its sources of capital funding with its global sustainability goals. Our green bonds complement our sustainability-linked global credit facility, enhancing our ability to support our customers as they grow and scale, which helps to ensure a greener future for all,” said Aaron Binkley, VP of Sustainability at Digital Realty.
Beyond green bonds, Digital Realty is committed to sustainability through initiatives such as joining the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2020. As part of this commitment, Digital Realty aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 68% and Scope 3 emissions by 24% by 2030.
With over 120 data centers worldwide now powered by 100% renewable electricity, Digital Realty remains at the forefront of sustainable data center solutions. The company’s commitment to decarbonization is further demonstrated by its participation as a signatory of the European Climate Neutral Data Center Pact. Following a third-party audit in 2023, Digital Realty received a Certificate of Conformity, certifying its adherence to the self-regulatory initiatives set out by the Pact in Europe.
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About Digital Realty
Digital Realty connects businesses and data by offering a comprehensive range of solutions including data center, colocation, and interconnection services. Through PlatformDIGITAL®, their global data center platform, they provide customers with a secure environment and a proven PDx® solution methodology to address Data Gravity challenges efficiently and drive innovation. With a presence in over 50 metros across 25 countries on six continents, Digital Realty grants its customers access to interconnected data communities worldwide through its network of 300+ facilities.
