Abstract:
In its 2024 environmental report, Google disclosed a significant increase in emissions, largely driven by the energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI). The company’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 are facing substantial challenges due to rising data centre energy consumption and supply chain emissions. Here are the key points:
Key Highlights:
- Emissions Increase: Google’s emissions rose by nearly 50% compared to 2019 and 13% year over year in 2023.
- AI Impact: The surge is primarily due to the rapid advancements in and demand for AI technologies.
- Data Center Consumption: Total data centre electricity consumption grew by 17% in 2023.
- Renewable Energy Challenges: Immediate implementation of renewables is hindered by delays in infrastructure development.
- Efficiency Measures: Google highlighted that its data centres are 1.8 times more energy-efficient than typical centres.
- Industry Trend: Other tech giants like Microsoft are also experiencing increased emissions due to the demand for AI.