Google has disclosed a significant increase in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 2023, reporting a 48% rise compared to 2019 levels. The company’s latest Environmental Report reveals that total GHG emissions for the year reached 14.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
The tech giant attributes this surge to the escalating energy demands of its data centers, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chain emissions. Google anticipates that emissions will continue to rise before they eventually start to decline.
AI-powered services require substantially more computing power and electricity than standard online activities, raising concerns about their environmental impact. Google aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 but acknowledges that the integration of AI into their products may complicate efforts to reduce emissions due to the increased computing power and associated infrastructure investments.
“Reaching net-zero emissions by 2030 is an extremely ambitious goal and we know it will not be easy. Our approach will continue to evolve and will require us to navigate significant uncertainty,” the company stated in the report.
Google also highlighted the unpredictable future environmental impact of AI, noting that solutions to some global challenges currently do not exist and will heavily depend on the broader transition to clean energy.
Despite these challenges, Google has heavily invested in AI and emphasized the technology’s potential to aid in climate action. The company projects that AI could help mitigate 5-10% of global GHG emissions by 2030, citing its ability to improve information organization, prediction, and optimization.
The International Energy Agency has projected that electricity consumption by data centers could double to 1,000 TWh by 2026. By 2030, AI is expected to drive data centers to consume 4.5% of global energy generation, per SemiAnalysis.
In response to this, major tech companies, including Google, have become significant purchasers of renewable energy to meet their climate goals. However, Google’s report highlights significant disparities in the impact of its data centers worldwide. While most facilities in Europe and the Americas primarily use carbon-free energy, those in the Middle East, Asia, and Australia rely much less on such sources. Overall, about two-thirds of Google’s energy comes from carbon-free sources.
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In March, the UK’s National Grid predicted that quantum computing and AI would cause a surge in energy use. National Grid CEO John Pettigrew forecasted a six-fold increase in power usage by data centers over the next decade, with overall demand on the grid expected to double by 2030 as heat, transport, and industry continue to electrify.
