United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on artificial intelligence companies to publicly disclose their environmental impacts and commit to using clean energy sources. Speaking at a climate event in New York, Guterres emphasized that the rapid expansion of AI technologies is driving up energy consumption and electronic waste, posing a new threat to global climate goals.
Growing Energy Demands of AI
According to a recent report from the International Energy Agency, data centers powering AI systems could consume up to 10% of global electricity by 2030, up from roughly 2% today. The UN chief warned that without transparency and binding commitments, the AI sector could undermine progress made under the Paris Agreement. “We cannot allow the digital revolution to become a climate catastrophe,” Guterres said.
Call for Transparency and Accountability
Guterres urged AI developers to follow standardized reporting frameworks for energy use, water consumption, and e-waste generation. He also called on governments to include AI infrastructure in national climate plans. “The same innovative spirit that drives AI must be applied to making it sustainable,” he added.
Industry Response
Several major AI firms have already pledged to power their operations with renewable energy, but critics argue that progress is uneven and often opaque. The UN chief’s remarks come ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit, where AI’s environmental footprint is expected to be a key topic.
