According to a report from the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU), operational carbon emissions from leading global tech companies surged by an average of 150 percent between 2020 and 2023. This dramatic increase is attributed to heavy investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and the rapid expansion of data centers and cloud computing. Top firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet saw some of the highest rises in emissions, driven by skyrocketing electricity demand. The report warns that, without policies or standards to regulate or disclose AI-related emissions, this upward trend could continue, with the tech sector’s carbon footprint potentially equaling that of several large countries. The rapid growth of power-hungry digital infrastructure poses significant challenges to global sustainability efforts.
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