The company’s emissions in 2023 are up 13% from the previous year and 48% from 2019. Google blames the rise in the use of artificial intelligence, which requires large amounts of energy to run its data centers.
Experts worry that the rapid expansion of data centres could slow the transition to clean electricity, while technology companies say AI could also help combat climate change by, for example, predicting floods or optimising traffic.
On the bright side, Google is increasing its use of renewable energy. In 2020, the company set a goal to switch to 100% clean energy for its data centers and offices worldwide by 2030. Google says that by 2023, an average of 64% of the energy in its data centers and offices worldwide will come from low-carbon sources.
Source: Ferra
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