Geneva, Switzerland (Enmaeya News) — A new international report highlights a concerning rise in carbon emissions and energy consumption within the technology sector, underscoring the environmental challenges that accompany digital innovation.
Issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the report identifies artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure as key contributors to the sector’s increasing carbon footprint. This trend persists even as many technology companies adopt renewable energy sources and set ambitious sustainability targets.
The report, which includes data through the end of 2023 and examines over 200 leading digital firms, indicates that emissions in the tech industry continue to grow, driven primarily by the expansion of AI systems and the rapid development of data centers.
Despite these environmental concerns, the report notes encouraging signs of progress. An increasing number of companies are acknowledging their environmental impact and taking steps to reduce it. Many have now set specific climate targets, transitioned to renewable energy, and adopted science-based methodologies for lowering emissions.
The ITU emphasized that digital innovation, particularly AI, is playing a significant role in increasing both energy consumption and carbon output. The organization stressed that while awareness is rising among digital companies, sustained efforts are essential to maintain progress toward global climate goals.
A key focus of the report is the surge in electricity consumption by data centers, which saw annual growth of 12% between 2017 and 2023, four times the global average. Additionally, emissions from four major AI companies rose by an average of 150% since 2020.
In 2023 alone, 166 digital companies were responsible for 0.8% of global energy-related carbon emissions. At the same time, 164 companies consumed roughly 2.1% of global electricity, or 581 terawatt-hours, with just 10 companies accounting for half of this consumption.
The Global Standardization Alliance highlighted the unique position of digital companies to drive sustainable change, pointing to their resources and wide-reaching influence. However, it emphasized that meaningful results require action beyond setting goals.
Under the theme “Greening Digital Companies,” the report showed that eight firms achieved climate commitment scores above 90%, a notable increase from just three the year before. Nearly half of the companies analyzed have pledged to reach net-zero emissions, and 51 of them aim to meet their targets ahead of schedule.
Progress was also observed in renewable energy adoption. In 2023, 23 companies relied entirely on clean energy sources, up from 16 in 2022. A total of 49 companies released independent climate impact reports, and 110 firms published specific goals for reducing emissions across their supply chains.
