In Short : UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the tech industry to power all data centers with 100% renewable energy by 2030. As AI and digital services drive massive energy demand, data centers risk becoming major carbon emitters. Guterres also urged sustainable water use for cooling, stressing that green energy is essential for a climate-responsible digital future.
In Detail : UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a strong call to the global tech industry to transition all data centers to 100% renewable energy by 2030. His appeal comes amid rising concerns over the environmental impact of expanding digital infrastructure, particularly driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Guterres highlighted the exponential growth in electricity consumption from data centers worldwide. He warned that if unchecked, their energy use could soon rival that of entire nations, such as Japan. This projection underscores the urgency of aligning digital growth with climate goals.
Data centers are essential for powering the modern digital economy, hosting everything from social media and video streaming to advanced AI models. However, their intensive power and water needs have raised alarms, especially as climate change intensifies.
The UN chief emphasized the importance of powering these centers with clean sources like solar and wind. Transitioning to renewables would significantly reduce the sector’s carbon footprint and help meet global net-zero targets.
He also pointed to the need for more sustainable water usage in data center cooling systems. Many facilities rely heavily on freshwater resources to manage heat, adding to environmental pressure in water-scarce regions.
Guterres called on tech giants, cloud providers, and governments to cooperate in setting and enforcing emissions standards for the sector. Transparency in energy sourcing and climate disclosures was also urged as part of responsible digital operations.
The rise of generative AI and high-performance computing is expected to further accelerate electricity demand. Without decarbonisation, this growth could offset progress made in other sectors like transport and manufacturing.
The UN’s message is clear: innovation must not come at the cost of the planet. Companies embracing digital transformation are being urged to do so in a way that aligns with the principles of climate justice and sustainability.
This call to action is part of a broader global push to green the digital economy. It reinforces the idea that the climate crisis requires solutions from every sector, including technology, which plays a central role in shaping the future.
