QTS Realty Trust, commonly referred to as QTS, is a leading provider of data centre solutions headquartered in the United States. Established in 2003, the company has expanded its operations across key regions, including the Midwest, South, and West Coast, positioning itself as a significant player in the data centre industry. QTS offers a comprehensive suite of services, including colocation, cloud services, and managed hosting, distinguished by its commitment to security and scalability. The company has achieved notable milestones, such as the development of innovative data centre designs that optimise energy efficiency and operational performance. With a strong market presence, QTS has garnered recognition for its robust infrastructure and customer-centric approach, making it a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable data management solutions.
How does Qts's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Real Estate Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Qts's score of 45 is higher than 64% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2023, QTS reported total carbon emissions of approximately 880,700 kg CO2e for Scope 1 and about 12,850,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2. The company also disclosed significant Scope 3 emissions, particularly from downstream leased assets, amounting to approximately 785,052,000 kg CO2e. This data reflects a comprehensive approach to emissions reporting, covering all relevant scopes. Comparatively, in 2022, QTS's emissions were approximately 5,603,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, about 9,485,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2, and around 628,511,000 kg CO2e for Scope 3. The substantial increase in Scope 3 emissions highlights the importance of addressing indirect emissions in their climate strategy. QTS has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 for both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. This target was established in 2022 and reflects a commitment to innovative carbon reduction methods, with quarterly meetings to track progress. Additionally, the company aims to source 100% of its electrical power from zero-emission sources by 2025, demonstrating a proactive approach to achieving net-zero emissions across all scopes. Overall, QTS's emissions data and climate commitments underscore its dedication to sustainability and carbon reduction within the data centre industry.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
Qts's Scope 3 emissions, which increased by 25% last year and increased by approximately 106% since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Nearly all of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing nearly all emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Downstream Leased Assets" representing nearly all of their reported Scope 3 footprint.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Qts has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

