UN secretary-general calls for greater transparency on AI’s climate impact
Coal currently powers nearly a third of global data centre electricity consumption.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on AI companies to publicly disclose the environmental impact of their operations, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and land use. Speaking at London Climate Action Week, Guterres proposed an AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, arguing that communities are often left without clear information about the environmental impact of nearby data centre developments.
Citing a UN study, Guterres said data centres consumed more electricity in 2025 than all but ten countries, accounting for around 1.5% of global electricity demand. That share could approach 3% by 2030, while AI-related water consumption and pollution are also projected to rise significantly. By 2030, that figure is projected to nearly double to close to 3 per cent, while the water use and pollution associated with AI are also expected to double within four years.
Guterres noted that coal still provides around 30% of the electricity used by data centres globally, while renewables account for approximately 27%. He called on AI companies to power their facilities entirely with renewable energy by 2030. Guterres called on AI firms to commit to powering their facilities entirely from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2030, though existing clean energy commitments from major tech companies have already been complicated by the rapid pace of AI deployment.
Guterres linked the proposal to broader concerns about climate change and energy security, arguing that both are rooted in continued dependence on fossil fuels. He noted that the planet has just endured its eleven hottest years on record, and that last year marked the first time the three-year global temperature average broke through the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
He also noted that renewable energy surpassed one-third of global electricity generation in 2025 for the first time, while coal’s share fell below one-third, although he cautioned that rising AI-related electricity demand could complicate progress.
Guterres, whose term ends in December 2026, will convene world leaders again at the annual COP climate summit later this year. He reiterated calls for every major emitter to accelerate action, reduce methane emissions, and move away from coal, oil, and gas, with the speech delivered during a heatwave affecting much of London and Europe.
Why does it matter?
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is bringing its environmental footprint under increasing scrutiny. As data centres consume growing amounts of electricity and water, policymakers are beginning to ask whether AI companies should be subject to the same transparency expectations applied to other carbon-intensive industries. Standardised reporting could provide governments, investors and local communities with a clearer understanding of AI’s environmental impact.
The proposal also highlights the growing intersection between AI governance and climate policy. As countries seek to expand AI capabilities while meeting emissions targets, the availability of clean energy, sustainable infrastructure and transparent environmental reporting is likely to become an increasingly important part of discussions on responsible AI development.
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