AI and the energy required to power it fuel new climate concerns
What is Google's carbon emission goal for 2030?
Google's carbon emission goal for 2030 is to achieve net-zero emissions across all of its operations and value chain. The company aims to reduce 50% of its combined Scope 1, 2 (market-based), and 3 absolute emissions (compared to its 2019 base year) by 2030. It plans to invest in nature-based and technology-based carbon removal solutions to neutralize its remaining emissions2.
Why have Google's emissions increased since 2019?
Google's emissions have increased since 2019 primarily due to the rapid advancements in and demand for artificial intelligence, which has led to increased data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions. The company's total data center electricity consumption grew 17% in 2023, driven by the integration of AI into its products and services.
How does AI contribute to increased energy consumption?
AI contributes to increased energy consumption through its need for powerful computational resources, such as specialized chips and data centers, to process and analyze large amounts of data during training and inference phases. Additionally, cooling systems for these computational resources also consume significant amounts of energy.