bloomshorts UN Urges AI Industry to Adopt Renewable Energy
In a bold move, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the artificial intelligence sector to prioritize sustainable energy for its rapidly expanding data centers. With a typical AI data center consuming as much electricity as 100,000 homes, the current trajectory is unsustainable.
The Growing Energy Crisis
Guterres warned that by 2030, data centers could consume electricity equivalent to all of Japan today, emphasizing the urgent need for action. He challenged major tech firms to commit to powering all data centers with 100% renewable energy by the end of the decade.
AI: Part of the Solution
Despite being energy-intensive, AI also holds the key to improving energy efficiency and innovation. Guterres pointed out the dual role of AI in both contributing to and potentially solving the energy challenges it faces.
A Global Call to Action
The UN’s appeal underscores the critical need for the tech industry to lead in sustainability efforts, with data centers currently accounting for 1.5% of global electricity consumption—a figure set to more than double by 2030.
