United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater transparency from artificial intelligence companies regarding their environmental footprint, emphasizing the urgent need for global action on climate change and the persistent role of fossil fuels in exacerbating energy and climate crises.
Speaking in London amidst a significant European heatwave, Guterres highlighted the alarming trend of record-breaking high temperatures, noting that the past 11 years have been the hottest on record. He characterized the current situation as a "Tale of Two Crises"—climate chaos and an energy crisis fueled by geopolitical conflict—both stemming from humanity's dependence on fossil fuels.
In response to the growing energy and water demands of data centers that power AI and other digital services, Guterres introduced new initiatives. These include a push to combat methane emissions and address the environmental impact of these energy-intensive facilities. A recent UN study projected that by 2030, data centers could consume more electricity than all but five countries globally.
Guterres launched the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, urging leading AI firms to publicly disclose their environmental impacts and commit to powering all their data centers with renewable energy by 2030. He stated, "If AI is to help build a better future, it must be honest about what it costs us now."
The Secretary-General also warned that the world is "dangerously" off track to meet the 2050 net-zero emissions goal. He stressed the necessity of accelerating the transition to renewable energy and acting with "far greater urgency" to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, a target established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which scientists predict could be breached around 2030. He cautioned that rising temperatures are pushing the planet closer to "catastrophic tipping points."
Furthermore, Guterres called for a rapid reduction in CO2 emissions from oil, gas, and coal, and renewed efforts to cut methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. He specifically urged the fossil fuel industry to implement existing technologies to eliminate approximately 70 percent of methane emissions, and called on governments to establish a "new global standard" for near-zero methane emissions in the oil and gas sector.
