Google reports 48 percent increase in greenhouse gas amid AI growth

(MENAFN) Google has reported a significant 48 percent increase in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2019 and 2023, largely attributed to the expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI), heightened energy consumption in data centers, and emissions from its supply chain. According to the tech giant's 2024 Environmental Report, its total GHG emissions reached 14.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, marking a 13 percent rise from the previous year.

The report underscored the challenges in reducing emissions amidst increasing compute intensity and infrastructure investments necessary to support AI advancements. Despite these challenges, Google maintained an average of approximately 64 percent carbon-free energy across its global data centers and offices from 2022 to 2023, despite a surge in electricity demand during this period.

Looking forward, Google has set ambitious environmental goals, aiming to achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy across all grids it operates by 2030 and to halve its combined emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. However, the integration of AI continues to pose complexities in emission reduction efforts due to the escalating energy demands associated with AI compute and the anticipated growth in technical infrastructure investments.

The company's commitment to transparency and sustainability remains paramount as it navigates these challenges, striving to balance technological innovation with environmental stewardship in its operations worldwide.

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