Reported 12 months ago
Google released its 2024 environmental report on July 2, attributing a nearly 50% increase in carbon emissions compared to 2019 to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) development, showcasing the massive power consumption of AI and the challenges Google faces in achieving its net-zero emissions goal by 2030. The report highlighted a 13% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 to 14.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, 48% growth since 2019, with a 17% rise in total power consumption at data centers. Google cited the increased energy consumption driven by AI technology and a surge in supply chain carbon emissions. Google's sustainability chief, Kate Brandt, acknowledged the difficulties ahead with further AI integration into products leading to increased emissions due to intensified AI computation and expanded infrastructure investments, emphasizing the need for systemic changes, strong government policies, and support for new technologies to achieve a sustainable future. The tech industry's expanding data centers to provide AI services are significantly contributing to increased electricity consumption, with estimates predicting a 20% rise in electricity usage by 2030 and a potential 323 TWh increase in US power demand solely from AI data centers. While renewable energy is expected to play a growing role in offsetting AI energy consumption in the future, the time required to build power transmission facilities means traditional energy sources cannot be immediately replaced. Google noted that its data centers are about 1.8 times more energy-efficient than average data centers and outlined plans for modular optimization, efficient infrastructure, and emission reductions to mitigate AI's environmental impact. Google is not the only tech giant experiencing increased emissions due to AI demand, as Microsoft also saw a nearly 30% increase in carbon emissions since 2020 from extensive data center construction to support advanced AI technology. Both Google and Microsoft aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Source: YAHOO