The tech giant is investing in the natural-gas-burning power plant as part of a huge data center in Texas, even as it pledges to honor climate commitments.
Data: International Energy Agency ; Note: In terrawatt-hours; Chart: Amy Harder/Axios A recent United Nations call to power data centers with renewable energy highlights a central tension in the AI boom: Renewables are rising, but so is reliance on fossil fuels. Why it matters: Electricity demand for data centers is projected to at least double in the next four years, and where that power comes from will influence investments — and the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions. Driving the news: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is calling on all data centers to be powered by renewable energy by 2030, along with being more transparent on their energy, water and land impacts. Reality check: Most energy analysts say the UN's…
After years of touting ambitious climate goals, big tech companies are now facing new scrutiny over what they disclose about AI's environmental footprint. Why it matters: The AI boom is turning a handful of tech companies into defining players in the debate over electricity and water use. Their willingness to disclose these impacts is becoming almost as important as the impacts themselves. Driving the news: New environmental reports from Google , Amazon and Microsoft show emissions and water use continuing to rise as AI infrastructure expands — while revealing differences in what the companies disclose. - "There is a bit of a reluctance to share a lot of things in this competitive dynamic and also with these being public companies,"…
Beef is far worse for greenhouse gas emissions compared with other meat.
While the company has touted its ambitious climate goals over the years, the hunger for energy, driven by the development of artificial intelligence, is pushing those goals to the back seat.
Do as I say, not as I do: A petition signed by thousands of people, including Olympic athletes, claims that fossil fuels are "killing winter sports" and demands that the International Olympic Committee study if sponsorships from petroleum companies are appropriate. Despite much winter gear and apparel being made from petroleum, and the fact that the athletes fly to events on gas-guzzling jets, those facts seem to be ignored.