{"id":17216,"date":"2026-06-23T16:32:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17216"},"modified":"2026-06-23T16:32:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:32:47","slug":"ai-companies-should-release-environmental-impact-commit-to-clean-energy-says-un-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17216","title":{"rendered":"AI companies should release environmental impact, commit to clean energy, says UN chief"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

By ALEXA ST. JOHN<\/strong><\/p>\n

United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres on Tuesday called on artificial intelligence companies to release information about the carbon pollution they create, along with the water and land used to power their operations.<\/p>\n

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While urging action in an address at London Climate Action Week, Guterres proposed the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, arguing AI companies should measure and disclose the impact of their increasingly in-demand technology \u2014 impact which has been cited by opponents as reasons to curb the rapid growth of data centers. These companies have faced mounting pressure, both from governments and locally in areas with data centers that support AI, for increased transparency and more standardized reporting across the industry.<\/p>\n

Guterres said AI companies should also commit to powering their facilities with electricity produced with renewable technologies, such as wind and solar, by 2030.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more hidden costs,\u201d Guterres said at Europe\u2019s largest independent climate conference. \u201cNo more shifting the burden onto those least able to bear it. It is time to come clean.\u201d<\/p>\n

AI\u2019s needs are growing<\/h4>\n

Many major tech companies have vowed to power their operations using cleaner sources, some by the end of the decade. Some plan to do so especially using solar and nuclear, including tech giants Amazon and Google.<\/p>\n

But the race to deploy AI has complicated those commitments and sent soaring greenhouse gas emissions, which come from the burning of fuels like oil, coal and gas, and heat the planet. Regulatory barriers have also hindered climate-friendly projects.<\/p>\n

Currently, coal sources about 30% of the electricity consumed by data centers globally, according to the International Energy Agency. Renewable energy \u2013 primarily wind, solar and hydro powers \u2013 supplies about 27%, natural gas, 26%, and nuclear, 15%. Renewables are expected to meet just half of that demand over the next five years.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

As AI booms, many, including Guterres, have touted its ability to accelerate climate solutions. It could improve energy efficiency, and reduce pollution and emissions.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the environmental footprint of data centers already rivals some of the world\u2019s largest countries, according to a U.N. report released earlier this month.<\/p>\n

That report also said the water, energy use and pollution associated with AI will double in just four years. Data centers needed to fuel AI accounted for about 1.5% of the world\u2019s electricity consumption in 2025, and will account for nearly 3% of the world\u2019s projected electricity use by 2030.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite these obvious concerns, communities are often left in the dark about the environmental impact of the infrastructure rising around them,\u201d Guterres said in his remarks.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The UN continues to sound urgent alarms<\/h4>\n

The U.N. chief has long urged the world to take serious climate action, and will once again convene leaders at the annual Conference of Parties, this year in Turkey, to negotiate plans.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, addressing AI was just a number of steps he said needed to be taken to keep the world below the warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to pre-industrial times, a goal set during the 2015 Paris Agreement.<\/p>\n

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Last year was the first time that the three-year temperature average broke through that threshold.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery major emitter must accelerate action,\u201d Guterres said. \u201cAnd every country must over-deliver on its commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n

He called for cutting methane, a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for around one-third of global warming and significantly more potent than carbon dioxide, though comparatively it lingers for less time in the atmosphere. He also called for a reduction in dependence on coal, oil and gas.<\/p>\n

Renewables progress seen around the globe but challenges remain<\/h4>\n

Guterres noted in his remarks positive developments in renewable energy, as scale drives down the costs of the technologies and adoption increases.<\/p>\n

Clean power generation \u2014 largely driven by solar and wind \u2014 exceeded overall global electricity demand growth last year. The share of renewables also hit more than one-third of the world\u2019s electricity mix for the first time in modern history in 2025, and coal power saw its share fall below one-third of global generation.<\/p>\n

China continues to drive the world\u2019s clean energy transition, and in Europe, fossil generation is generally trending down.<\/p>\n

But the U.S. under President Donald Trump has embraced coal, oil and gas and slashed support for renewables and broader climate action \u2014 all amid the global energy crisis exacerbated by the U.S. war in Iran, which Guterres called \u201cthe mother of all energy shocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guterres referred to the current state of the world as \u201cA Tale of Two Crises,\u201d drawing a metaphor to the Charles Dickens\u2019 novel, \u201cA Tale of Two Cities\u201d \u2014 also a nod to London where the address was given.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the climate agenda, this is indeed the best of times and the worst of times,\u201d he said. \u201cThe worst \u2013 because climate impacts are intensifying, tipping points are looming, and the energy crisis has exposed the deep risks of dependence on fossil fuels. But also the best \u2013 because the renewables revolution is well underway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more of AP\u2019s climate coverage.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Associated Press\u2019 climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP\u2019s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.<\/em><\/p>\n

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