GDS Releases 2025 Sustainability Report, Achieving MSCI AAA Rating

GDS (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress on its decarbonization roadmap.

Rhea-AI Summary

GDS (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress on its decarbonization roadmap. In 2025, GDS lifted its renewable energy usage rate to 60%, with direct green power purchases up over 60% year-over-year and representing 75% of total renewable sources. Average PUE improved from 1.24 to 1.23, while 90% of self-developed data centers now meet green building standards and 45 are certified green. These initiatives contributed to a 23.1% reduction in carbon intensity versus 2023. GDS also launched a pilot to convert recycled waste cooking oil into biodiesel for backup power, cutting lifecycle carbon emissions by over 90%, and its Shanghai Pujiang Campus obtained China’s first Zero Waste to Landfill certification. The company’s MSCI ESG rating was upgraded from A to AAA, and it maintained a CDP B rating, inclusion in the S&P CSA Rating 2025 Yearbook, and a Moody’s NZA-2 net-zero assessment rating.

Positive

• Renewable energy usage rate reached 60% in 2025
• Direct green power purchases up over 60% year-over-year and 75% of renewables
• Carbon intensity reduced 23.1% versus 2023 baseline
• MSCI ESG rating upgraded from A to AAA
• 45 data centers certified green; 90% meet green building standards
• Biodiesel pilot cuts lifecycle emissions by over 90% versus conventional diesel

Negative

• None.

Argus Jul 28 session 19 alerts

-2.39% close to close 0.3x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – GDS

-2.7% Trough in 21 min

$6.05B Market Cap

In the Jul 28 session, GDS declined 2.39%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -2.7% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 19 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

Recent insider data recorded Net Selling, with 47,394 shares sold and none bought. That platform con...

Analysis

Recent insider data recorded Net Selling, with 47,394 shares sold and none bought. That platform context adds a governance-risk lens to the report, while short positioning was classified as low; execution against sustainability targets remains relevant.

Key Figures

Renewable energy usage: 60% Direct green power purchases: over 60% year-over-year Renewable source share: 75% +5 more

Renewable energy usage

60%

2025

Direct green power purchases

over 60% year-over-year

2025

Renewable source share

75%

Direct green power purchases as total renewable sources

Average PUE

1.23

2025, improved from 1.24 in 2024

Green-certified data centers

45 data centers

2025

Carbon intensity reduction

23.1%

Compared to baseline year 2023

Biodiesel lifecycle emissions reduction

over 90%

Versus conventional diesel

MSCI ESG rating

AAA

Upgraded from A; highest tier possible

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 25

5 events

1. Jun 25

   Annual meeting results

   24h Move

   -6.2%

   All resolutions passed, including director elections and equity plan extension.

2. Jun 02

   Annual meeting notice

   24h Move

   +3.9%

   Company announced the June 25 annual general meeting and shareholder voting eligibility.

3. May 20

   Director leadership change

   24h Move

   -9.3%

   Independent director resigned and a replacement became audit committee chair.

4. May 20

   First-quarter earnings

   24h Move

   -9.3%

   Revenue, net income and adjusted EBITDA increased, while guidance was reaffirmed.

5. May 06

   Earnings date notice

   24h Move

   +2.2%

   Company scheduled its first-quarter results release and investor conference call.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

power usage effectiveness, carbon intensity, biodiesel, zero waste to landfill, +1 more

5 terms

power usage effectiveness technical

"improved its average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) from 1.24 in 2024"

Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a simple ratio that compares the total energy a facility uses (cooling, lighting, power losses) to the energy used directly by computing equipment; a lower number means more of the power is doing productive work. For investors, PUE acts like a fuel-efficiency rating for data centers — better PUE usually means lower operating costs, smaller environmental footprint, and a competitive advantage when scaling operations or meeting sustainability expectations.

carbon intensity technical

"a 23.1% reduction in carbon intensity compared to baseline year 2023"

Carbon intensity measures how much greenhouse gas a company, product, or activity produces for each unit of output — for example per unit of product made, per megawatt-hour of electricity, or per dollar of revenue. Think of it like miles per gallon but for emissions: lower numbers mean less pollution for the same activity. Investors watch it because higher carbon intensity can signal increased regulatory costs, shifting customer demand, and higher risk of assets losing value as economies move toward cleaner energy.

biodiesel technical

"converts recycled waste cooking oil into biodiesel for backup power systems"

Biodiesel is a renewable liquid fuel made from plant oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking oil that can be used in place of or blended with petroleum diesel in vehicles and equipment. Investors watch biodiesel because its production costs, feedstock availability, government incentives, and environmental rules affect energy prices, company earnings and risk profiles—similar to how a shift from regular to premium fuel can change operating costs and demand patterns.

zero waste to landfill technical

"earned China’s first Zero Waste to Landfill Management Performance Certification"

A goal or operational status where a company diverts all its non-hazardous solid waste away from landfills by reducing, reusing, recycling, composting, or recovering energy. Investors care because it signals lower long-term waste disposal costs, reduced regulatory and reputational risks, and alignment with environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations—much like a household that sorts and repurposes everything to avoid putting anything in the trash can.

net zero assessment technical

"retained its Moody’s NZA-2 (Net Zero Assessment) rating"

An assessment that evaluates a company’s plan and progress toward reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions, including current emissions, reduction targets, timelines, and the methods used (reductions, offsets, or removals). It acts like a roadmap check: it looks at whether the steps are concrete, measurable and governed, and whether assumptions are realistic. Investors use it to gauge transition risks, regulatory exposure, and how climate actions might affect future costs, revenues and valuation.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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SHANGHAI, China, July 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS Holdings”, “GDS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698), a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, today released its 2025 Sustainability Report, demonstrating accelerated progress across its decarbonization roadmap and sustainability performance.

In 2025, GDS raised its renewable energy usage rate to 60%, with the volume of direct green power purchases up over 60% year-over-year and accounting for 75% of total renewable sources. The Company improved its average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) from 1.24 in 2024 to 1.23, and 90% of its self-developed data centers meet green building standards, with 45 data centers now certified green. These efforts contributed to a 23.1% reduction in carbon intensity compared to baseline year 2023. On the circular economy front, GDS launched China’s first pilot program that converts recycled waste cooking oil into biodiesel for backup power systems, cutting lifecycle carbon emissions by over 90% versus conventional diesel, and its Shanghai Pujiang Data Center Campus has earned China’s first Zero Waste to Landfill Management Performance Certification. Both are key pillars underpinning GDS’s path to net-zero emissions.

Notably, GDS achieved a landmark upgrade in its MSCI ESG rating from A to AAA, the highest tier possible, affirming its industry-leading sustainability performance. The Company also maintained a B rating in its CDP assessment, secured inclusion in the S&P CSA Rating 2025 Yearbook, and retained its Moody’s NZA-2 (Net Zero Assessment) rating, which validates its performance in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Ambition, Implementation, and Governance, remaining the only data center company in the world to successfully pass this net-zero assessment.

“Our 2025 performance reflects both the depth of our commitment and the tangible outcomes of our efforts to integrate sustainability principles across our operations,” said Mr. William Huang, Chairman and CEO of GDS. “From deploying renewable energy to implementing breakthrough circular practices and achieving top-tier ratings, we continue to build a green intelligent infrastructure platform that drives long-term value and industry advancement. We remain firmly committed to our 2030 carbon neutrality goal and are confident in the path we are charting.”

To view the report in full, please visit the Sustainability section on the GDS corporate website or access the report at:
https://c.gds-services.com/esg2025/docs/2025_ESG_Report_EN.pdf

About GDS Holdings Limited

GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) is a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China. The Company’s facilities are strategically located across the key hubs where demand for high-performance data center services is concentrated. The Company’s data centers have large net floor area, high power capacity, density and efficiency, and multiple redundancies across all critical systems. The Company is carrier and cloud-neutral, which enables its customers to access the major telecommunications networks, as well as the largest PRC and global public clouds, which are hosted in many of its facilities. The Company has a 26-year track record of service delivery, successfully fulfilling the requirements of some of the largest and most demanding customers for outsourced data center services in China. The Company’s customer base consists predominantly of hyperscale cloud service providers, large internet companies, financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, IT service providers, and large domestic private sector and multinational corporations. The Company also holds a minority equity interest in DayOne Data Centers Limited, an independent Singapore-headquartered hyperscale data center platform.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

GDS Holdings Limited
Laura Chen
Phone: +86 (21) 2029-2203
Email: ir@gds-services.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Ross Warner
Phone: +86 (10) 6508-0677
Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

Brandi Piacente
Phone: +1 (212) 481-2050
Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

GDS Holdings Limited

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What are the key highlights of the GDS (GDS) 2025 Sustainability Report released in July 2026?

GDS reported higher renewable energy use, lower carbon intensity, and multiple ESG rating achievements. According to GDS, 2025 actions advanced its decarbonization roadmap, expanded green-certified data centers, and supported its 2030 carbon neutrality goal with new circular economy initiatives.

How much renewable energy did GDS (GDS) use in 2025 according to its Sustainability Report?

GDS reached a 60% renewable energy usage rate in 2025. According to GDS, direct green power purchases grew over 60% year-over-year and accounted for 75% of its total renewable energy sources across operations.

What MSCI ESG rating did GDS (GDS) receive in its 2025 sustainability disclosure?

GDS achieved an upgrade in its MSCI ESG rating from A to AAA. According to GDS, AAA is the highest MSCI tier and reflects its sustainability performance relative to peers in the data center industry.

How did GDS (GDS) change its carbon intensity in 2025 versus 2023?

GDS reduced its carbon intensity by 23.1% compared with the 2023 baseline year. According to GDS, this improvement stems from higher renewable energy usage, efficiency gains, and green building adoption across its self-developed data centers.

What is notable about GDS (GDS) biodiesel and zero-waste initiatives in 2025?

GDS launched a pilot converting recycled cooking oil into biodiesel and gained a zero-waste certification. According to GDS, the biodiesel cuts lifecycle emissions by over 90%, and its Shanghai Pujiang Campus earned China’s first Zero Waste to Landfill certification.