June 6, 2025— A new United Nations report reveals that indirect carbon emissions from four of the world’s leading AI-driven tech companies—Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), and Meta—rose by an average of 150% from 2020 to 2023.
The report, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for digital technologies, links the dramatic rise in emissions to the increasing energy demands of power-intensive data centers needed to train and operate artificial intelligence systems.
Indirect Emissions Soar with AI Expansion
Indirect emissions—also known as Scope 2 emissions—refer to greenhouse gases generated from the electricity, steam, heating, and cooling purchased by companies for their operations.
The ITU tracked the emissions of 200 major digital companies over a three-year period. Among the tech giants, Amazon saw the largest increase, with its operational carbon emissions rising 182% by 2023 compared to 2020. This was followed by
- Microsoft: up 155%
- Meta (Facebook/WhatsApp owner): up 145%
- Alphabet (Google’s parent company): up 138%
Energy Use Outpacing Emissions Reductions
The report warns that the explosive growth of AI is outpacing emissions reduction efforts. As demand for AI accelerates, carbon emissions from AI-related data centers could reach up to 102.6 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent per year.
The ITU noted that electricity usage by data centers is growing four times faster than overall global electricity consumption, raising concerns about the strain on energy infrastructure and the effectiveness of corporate sustainability pledges.
Company Responses
- Meta referred to its sustainability report, which highlights efforts to lower energy and water use in data centers.
- Amazon stated it is investing in carbon-free energy projects, including renewable and nuclear energy.
- Microsoft pointed to energy-saving initiatives and its transition to chip-level liquid cooling systems to reduce power consumption.
Alphabet and others did not immediately respond to comment requests.
Emissions Targets vs. Reality
While many digital firms have announced emissions targets, the ITU found a clear gap between corporate ambitions and actual progress in reducing emissions.
“The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving a sharp rise in global electricity demand,” the report stated. “Despite the surge in sustainability pledges, many companies are struggling to translate those goals into real-world emission reductions.”
The report serves as a wake-up call: without systemic energy reforms and greener infrastructure for AI deployment, the environmental cost of the digital revolution could soon outweigh its benefits.
