A new report by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has found that indirect carbon emissions from top AI-focused technology firms rose by an average of 150% between 2020 and 2023. The spike, attributed largely to the rising energy demands of data centres powering artificial intelligence, underscores the growing environmental cost of rapid AI deployment as per the UN.
Amazon recorded the highest increase in emissions at 182%, followed by Microsoft at 155%, Meta at 145%, and Alphabet at 138%. These emissions fall under “Scope 2,” referring to greenhouse gases generated by purchased electricity and utilities used to run data infrastructure.
AI-driven demand far outpaces global energy growth
According to the report, energy consumption by AI-intensive data centres is now growing four times faster than the global average electricity demand. The ITU warns that emissions from top-tier AI systems could reach as high as 102.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually if current trends continue unchecked.
Although many companies have announced carbon reduction goals, the report finds limited progress in actual emission cuts. Meta pointed to ongoing efforts to reduce data centre emissions and water usage. Amazon said it is investing in renewable and carbon-free energy sources, including nuclear. Microsoft cited advances in chip-level liquid cooling and a doubling of power efficiency rates in the past year.
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The findings suggest that sustainability promises by major tech firms have not kept pace with the resource intensiveness of AI infrastructure growth.
Time to balance AI innovation with sustainability?
The UN report’s release comes as global attention sharpens on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence. With emissions rising across the industry, ITU calls for more accountability, better efficiency standards, and a renewed focus on green innovation.
As the race to lead in AI accelerates, the UN’s message is clear: sustainability must evolve in parallel with technological ambition.
