UN chief calls on AI firms to come clean on environmental costs
UN chief calls on AI firms to come clean on environmental costs
Publish Date: 2026-06-23 04:06:00
Source Domain: www.reuters.com
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Call for Transparent AI Emissions: The United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General urged major AI firms to disclose the environmental costs of their data centres, including their water, carbon, and land use impacts.
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Commitment to Renewable Energy by 2030: Guterres called for AI firms to transition all their data centres to be powered by renewable energy by 2030.
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Growing Carbon Footprint of Data Centers: Data centres are rapidly expanding to support artificial intelligence, drawing criticism for their high energy usage and potential to outpace the power consumption of many countries by 2030.
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Launch of AI Environmental Transparency Initiative: Guterres launched a U.N. initiative focusing on the environmental transparency of AI companies, aiming for a more accountable tech industry.
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Need for Methane Emission Reductions: Guterres highlighted the urgent need for the oil and gas sector to address methane emissions, including fixing leaks and reducing flaring of natural gas, as methane is a significant driver of current global warming.
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Criticism of Fossil Fuel Use: He criticized the reliance on fossil fuels and emphasized the faster ways to reduce emissions through the deployment of renewable power projects.
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Call for a “Just Transition” Away From Fossil Fuels: Guterres announced plans to convene world leaders in September to focus on reducing global dependence on fossil fuels for a sustainable future.
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Upcoming U.N. Climate Conference: The Secretary-General plans to hold a gathering of world leaders ahead of COP31 in Turkey to further discuss these issues.
