Meta started 2025 with a bang! It reported soaring profits, strong ad sales, and rising daily users. While the tech giant crushed Wall Street expectations, it also ramped up climate action with bold investments in clean energy, carbon removal, and green data centers.
Top Revenue Drivers of Meta’s Q1 Growth
Revenue reached $42.31 billion, up 16% from last year. Net income was $16.64 billion, a 35% increase. Earnings per share rose to $6.43, up 37%. The operating margin improved to 41%, compared to 38% in Q1 2024Advertising remained the main driver, contributing $41.39 billion to the total revenue
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Advertising brought in $41.39 billion, making up most of the total revenue.
Explaining further, Meta’s growth came mainly from strong ad sales on Facebook and Instagram, even with global economic concerns. The company improved its profit margins by keeping costs under control.
It also raised its yearly spending budget to as much as $72 billion, focusing on building more AI data centers. Daily active users across all Meta platforms reached 3.43 billion, growing 6% year-over-year.
- Revenue from the U.S. and Canada totaled $18.61 billion. Europe contributed to $9.68 billion, followed by $8.44 billion from Asia-Pacific, and $5.59 billion from the rest of the world.
After Meta shared its earnings, the company’s stock went up by over 4%. For the second quarter of 2025, Meta expects revenue between $42.5 billion and $45.5 billion.
The Future is Meta
Meta is building the future of online connection using AI and new digital technology. Since Facebook started in 2004, it has helped billions of people stay in touch through apps like Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. Now, Meta is going beyond traditional screens to create deeper and more engaging digital experiences.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta founder and CEO said,
“We’ve had a strong start to an important year, our community continues to grow and our business is performing very well. We’re making good progress on AI glasses and Meta AI, which now has almost 1 billion monthly actives.”
Meta’s Commitment to Net Zero Emissions
As per its latest sustainability report, in 2023, Meta’s net emissions equaled 7.4 million metric tons of CO2. Key commitments include:
- Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2031, compared to a 2021 baseline, and ensuring that maximum suppliers adopt science-aligned GHG reduction targets by 2026.
- Keep Scope 3 emissions at or below 2021 levels by 2031.
- Since 2020, Meta has successfully maintained net-zero emissions in its operations, and it is on track to achieve net-zero across its entire value chain by 2030.
To address residual emissions, Meta is investing in both nature-based and technological carbon removal projects. These help mitigate climate change and provide broader environmental benefits, including enhanced biodiversity.
Scaling Renewable Energy
Renewable energy has played a pivotal role in Meta’s emissions reduction strategy.
- In 2023 alone, the company’s renewable energy initiatives helped cut operational emissions by 5.1 million tons of CO2e, while value chain emissions were reduced by 1.4 million tons of CO2e.
Through strategic partnerships with utilities such as Pacific Power and Dominion Energy, Meta has facilitated the addition of 2,600 MW of new wind and solar capacity in the U.S., making clean energy more accessible.
- As of 2023, Meta’s global renewable energy portfolio exceeded 11,700 MW, with over 6,700 MW of that capacity online in the U.S.
- Since 2021, its renewable energy efforts have reduced a total of 16.4 million tons of CO2e across operations and the value chain.
Meta also uses “green tariffs”, which allow the company to purchase renewable energy directly from electricity providers. This not only supports clean energy projects but also increases the accessibility of renewable resources to a wider customer base.
Making Data Centers Green
Meta’s data center facilities have achieved LEED Gold Certification or higher and are powered by 100% renewable energy to meet their electricity needs.
In addition, 91% of the construction waste generated by Meta’s data centers was recycled in 2023. Additionally, it reduces embedded carbon by extending hardware lifespan and using recycled plastics and metals, promoting a circular model to cut waste and carbon impact.
Meta is reducing diesel use at its data centers. First, it improved the maintenance of backup generators, which cut fuel consumption. Then, it began testing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) at its Clonee, Ireland, facility. Made from renewable sources, HVO can lower emissions by 40–85%. If the pilot succeeds, Meta plans to expand its use across more sites.
MUST READ: Meta, Google, and Amazon Join Global Pledge to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050
Carbon Removal Solutions
Meta is boosting the carbon removal market by supporting projects that help both the planet and local communities. One such step is the deal with Catona Climate to buy 6.75 million metric tons of carbon removal credits from nature-based solutions to be delivered between 2027 and 2035.
Its Symbiosis Coalition with other companies supporting new and growing carbon removal technologies.
