AI companies should release environmental impact and commit to clean energy, UN chief says
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on AI companies to disclose their environmental impact, including carbon, water, and land usage, and commit to powering their operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030. This initiative aims to address the significant and growing environmental footprint of data centers, which are projected to consume nearly 3% of global electricity by 2030.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at London Climate Action Week, urged artificial intelligence companies to release detailed information on their carbon emissions, water consumption, and land use. He also called for a commitment from these companies to power their facilities exclusively with renewable energy by 2030, proposing the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative.
Guterres highlighted the substantial environmental footprint of data centers, which are essential for AI operations, noting that their water and energy use, along with associated pollution, are projected to double within four years. A UN report indicated that data centers accounted for 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2025 and are expected to reach nearly 3% by 2030. The Secretary-General criticized the lack of transparency from companies regarding these impacts, especially for communities affected by data center infrastructure.
While some major tech companies, including Amazon and Google, have publicly committed to using cleaner energy sources, Guterres warned that the rapid expansion of AI could complicate these goals and exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions. He also touched on broader climate action, advocating for methane reduction and reduced reliance on fossil fuels globally. Despite positive trends in renewable energy adoption, Guterres lamented the varying national approaches to climate action, referencing the US under President Trump's embrace of fossil fuels.