Google appoints Luis Davila to lead sustainability communications amid AI scrutiny

Davila’s role and background

Google has appointed Luis Davila to lead its strategic communications for sustainability, a role focused on shaping the company’s messaging around environmental initiatives. Davila announced the move on LinkedIn, expressing his enthusiasm for communicating Google’s efforts to manage its environmental footprint and leverage AI for sustainability.

Davila brings a decade of experience in corporate and sustainability communications. Before joining Google, he served as senior director of corporate communications at Schneider Electric and head of sustainability communications at Amazon. His earlier work at the UNFCCC involved supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement, giving him a background in international climate action.

Scrutiny over AI data centers

Davila’s appointment comes as tech companies, including Google, face growing public and regulatory scrutiny over the resource demands of their AI data centers. These facilities, which power AI models and cloud services, consume vast amounts of water and electricity, often in regions already experiencing water stress.

Hyperscale data centers can use between 300,000 and 5 million gallons of water daily, primarily for cooling systems. An estimated 40% to two-thirds of these facilities are located in water-stressed regions, where their demand for potable water—drawn from municipal supplies or groundwater—intensifies competition for local resources. According to industry estimates, around 57% of data centers’ direct water use comes from potable sources.

The backlash reflects broader concerns about the environmental and social impact of AI infrastructure. Residents in affected areas have raised alarms about competing with corporations for water and electricity, while regulators and advocacy groups are pushing for greater transparency and sustainability standards.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Davila’s hiring signals Google’s recognition of the need to proactively address the environmental and social implications of its AI growth. For founders and operators, this move underscores the rising importance of sustainability in corporate communications, especially for businesses reliant on data centers or AI infrastructure. The scrutiny over water and energy use is not limited to big tech—startups scaling AI or cloud services may soon face similar pressure to disclose their resource consumption and adopt sustainable practices. Davila’s background at the UNFCCC and his experience navigating complex sustainability narratives could also set a precedent for how companies frame their climate commitments amid public skepticism.

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