AI Data Centers Climate Backslide
The massive energy demands of AI data centers are creating supply-demand gaps that tech companies may fill with cheaper fossil fuels rather than renewable energy, limiting their ability to meet climate goals
Too little corroboration in the last 3 days to call a trend (5 articles). Watching for it to gain traction.
"The gap between demand and supply of resources like energy and critical minerals 'can be filled by making your chips and data centres more efficient' or by tapping into more readily available options like fossil fuels."
"Both companies now pollute more for every dollar they generate in revenue. In other words, their emissions are rising faster than their sales – a first since at least 2021 for Amazon."
"Google's total emissions have jumped 82% since 2019, and more than 18% just last year, even though it has committed to cutting them in half by 2030. 'Our AI infrastructure buildout is currently accelerating faster than the grid is decarbonizing,' Kate Brandt, Google's chief sustainability officer, said in a blog post."
""Our AI infrastructure buildout is currently accelerating faster than the grid is decarbonizing," Kate Brandt, Google's chief sustainability officer, said in a blog post announcing the company's annual environmental report."
"Another sign that the problem is getting worse: both companies now pollute more for every dollar they generate in revenue. In other words, their emissions are rising faster than their sales -- a first since at least 2021 for Amazon."