United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged AI companies to disclose the carbon emissions, water usage, and land consumption associated with their operations during his speech at London Climate Action Week. He introduced the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, emphasizing the need for companies to measure and report their technology’s environmental footprint. Guterres also called for AI data centers to transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2030, stressing that no hidden environmental costs should burden vulnerable communities. While some tech giants have committed to cleaner energy, the rapid growth of AI and supporting data centers has increased greenhouse gas emissions and resource use, accounting for about 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2025, expected to nearly double by 2030. The UN continues to highlight the urgency of climate action to meet the Paris Agreement goals, promoting reductions in methane emissions and fossil fuel dependence amid ongoing progress and challenges in the global renewable energy transition.
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