China TMTs: key takes from Alibaba’s latest sustainability report – AI strategy, cybersecurity and data centre metrics

Research evidence excerpt

China TMTs: key takes from Alibaba’s latest sustainability report – AI strategy, cybersecurity and data centre metrics

FICC Research

Credit Research

2 July 2026

Sustainable Investing

China TMTs: key takes from

Alibaba’s latest sustainability

report – AI strategy, cybersecurity Sustainable Investing Research

Dave Dai, CFA(i)

+852 2903 2655and data centre metrics

dave.dai@barclays.com

Barclays Bank, Hong KongWe review key updates in Alibaba Group’s latest sustainability

report, its alignment with an AI-led growth agenda, and Credit Research

evolving industry challenges, alongside our credit view. Roanna Chau +852 2903 2625

roanna.chau@barclays.com

AI as a key sustainability focus: Alibaba Group’s June 2026 sustainability report underscores a Barclays Bank, Hong Kong

sharpened strategic focus on operating as a responsible and high-integrity company in the age

of AI. Data security and privacy protection have been elevated to the company's most material

focus. On governance, the company disclosed that 100% of its directors had completed

sustainability training.

Environmental metrics improving: AI development requires investment in data centres, which

are energy-intensive. During FY2026, Alibaba improved its self-owned data centre PUE1 by

another 0.3% to 1.187, making it the most energy-efficient among its Chinese peers. Carbon

reduction and green energy adoption also continued to advance.

Continuing to improve on cybersecurity: The company's rising focus on data security is

aligned with the rising challenge of cybersecurity in the industry. The company further

enhanced its Data Security Platform and disclosed AI deployment to enhance cyber

resilience. No major data leakage incident was recorded during the year. The company is ISO-