Stefan Bergmeier’s Post

Google reports a 48% surge in greenhouse gas emissions due to AI ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Google’s annual environment report shows that its greenhouse gas emissions have soared 48% since 2019. The tech giant said “increased data centre energy consumption and supply chain emissions” are the primary reasons behind the rise. AI systems require a large number of computers to function effectively. The data centres that support these systems, which are essentially warehouses filled with powerful computing equipment, consume vast amounts of energy to process data and manage the heat generated by all these computers. Google said, “While we advanced clean energy on many of the grids where we operate, there are still some hard-to-decarbonize regions like Asia Pacific where CFE isn’t readily available.” The company added, “We’re committed to responsibly managing the environmental impact of AI by deploying three major strategies: model optimization, efficient infrastructure, and emissions reductions.” Google remains optimistic about AI’s potential to drive positive change. However, it is also clear-eyed about its potential environmental impact and the collaborative effort required to navigate this evolving landscape. The company additionally added, “A sustainable future requires systems-level change, strong government policies, and new technologies. We’re committed to collaboration and playing our part, every step of the way.” According to the IEA, estimated global data centre electricity consumption represents around 1–1.3% of global electricity demand. Golestan (Sally) Radwan, UNEP’s Chief Digital Officer, remarked, “Through increased collaboration, innovation, and implementation, together with the development of robust governance and ethical frameworks that include minimizing the environmental impact of AI itself, we must ensure that AI remains unbiased and benefits all.” (Representative photo.Courtesy-Facebook)

Long time no post! This FT article on Google's CO2 emissions got me curious.  "Google emissions jump nearly 50% over five years as AI use surges" (Link in comments) In a nutshell for those with no access and the lazy busy ones 📃 Google released 2024 environmental report on Tuesday (link also in comments) 📈 They report 14mtCo2e (Scopes 1 2 3) in 2023 (+48% vs 2019 baseline, +13% vs last year) 🌍 NDLR that is the equivalent of a country Slovenia (3 m people @ top quartile development) or Sudan (45m people @ bottom quartile development) 🤖 The jump is attributed to energy requirements of running large language models (understand: data centres) 🛢 The article points out that “the company’s data centre electricity consumption had “outpaced” Google’s ability to bring more clean power projects online in the US and Asia-Pacific regions”. I understand this as "we had to burn more fossils". 🌳Google’s environmental report and the company’s communication naturally highlights the transformative impact AI can have on climate- and nature- positive initiatives and businesses, whether “google maps saving you fuel on your trip”, “dissemination of climate knowledge through search”, “consumption optimisation in the home and the factory” etc etc (go and read it!) – therefore having a positive, indirect effect on emissions and the climate. BUT ... BUT – isn’t 80%+ of google revenue in advertising? Would it be a reasonable hypothesis that AI will be deployed to strengthen the formidable stronghold they have on this industry? For example AI-powered campaign tools ? oh yeah they are here https://lnkd.in/ehWfAKeT. You can now buy more stuff even more efficiently than before 👿"Don't be evil"👿 Sarcasms apart, this is yet another illustration that, wherever innovation takes us, the path of faster growth is one of increased energy consumption and natural resource extraction. Without proper costing of these externalities we will dig more burn more cut more.   (But at least now we will have hyper personalised ads!) What do you think? (beyond disagreements on the emojis 🙂 )

Suprise surprise ————————- #Google’s greenhouse gas emissions have surged 48 per cent in the past five years due to the expansion of its data centres that underpin artificial intelligence systems, leaving its commitment to get to “net zero” by 2030 in doubt. The Silicon Valley company’s pollution amounted to 14.3mn tonnes of carbon equivalent in 2023, a 48 per cent increase from its 2019 baseline and a 13 per cent rise since last year, Google said in its annual environmental report on Tuesday. Google said the jump highlighted “the challenge of reducing emissions” at the same time as it invests in the build-out of large language models and their associated applications and infrastructure, admitting that “the future environmental impact of AI” was “complex and difficult to predict” There needs to be a carbon tax on transactions that are not for the public good to reduce the data waste and excess generated for essentially an advertising sector.

Microsoft and Google have cited the expansion of their datacentres, due to demand for AI services, for the sizeable gains in greenhouse gas emissions both companies have respectively disclosed in their annual environmental reports. What does this mean for their 2030 carbon reduction commitments, ponders Russell Macdonald FRSA MBCS MICRS, Mark Butcher, Rich Gibbons and Stephen Old #ITsustainability #netzero #greenIT #climatechange

🚨 Google's Emissions Surge by 50% Over Five Years Amid AI Boom 🚨 Google has experienced a nearly 50% increase in emissions over the past five years, primarily driven by the surge in AI usage. The company's growing data center operations, essential for AI development, have significantly contributed to this rise. Despite efforts to enhance energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy, the environmental impact remains substantial. - 50% increase in emissions from 2017 to 2022. - 14.3mn tonnes of carbon equivalent in 2023 - AI development and data center operations are major contributors. - Ongoing investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Read more: https://on.ft.com/3L55iY6 #Sustainability #AI #ClimateChange #RenewableEnergy

Nice article by Caroline Donnelly from Computer Weekly about the recent surge in public cloud providers reported emissions. The reality is that none of them are reducing emissions, they are all increasing at an exponential rate. This doesn't mean that they aren't operating efficiently, but does mean they need to take accountability and be more transparent rather than issuing PR pieces making demonstrably daft claims (like their AI platform being 99% more sustainable when they aren't).

Some key messages -- ----------------------------------------------------- Business performance -- AI has been a theme for blockbuster earnings performances quarter after quarter!! BUT Casualty -- Google greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were 13 percent higher than they were the prior year!! Microsoft said in its recent sustainability report that its greenhouse gas emissions last year were up 29 percent from 2020!! How and who will solve it -- "A sustainable future requires systems-level change, strong government policies, and new technologies," Google said in its report. "We're committed to collaboration and playing our part, every step of the way." --------------------------------------------- 🙂 #powerinfrastructure #energytransition #climatechange #greenhousegases #artificialintelligence #datacenters #electricitydemand

One of the darker sides of AI, and one of the questions Jarrod Plant and I were asked at our recent #EuroSTARConf presentations. Googles greenhouse gas emissions has increased 48% in the past 5 years and Microsoft has also reported a rise in emissions. Both companies are citing investment in infrastructure for AI as the primary cause. As someone who is passionate about the environment, this is a real area of concern and I love how often this question comes up. It’s heartening to see this kind of attention. At the recent Google and AFR summit on AI in Sydney, the message was clear that the future is renewables and that plans were in place to establish DCs in areas with easy & cheap access to renewables. The timeframes however aren’t going to mitigate the impact in the short term. While both google and Microsoft remain committed to their renewable energy and emissions targets, googles own Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt said the company remained committed to the 2030 target but stressed the “extremely ambitious” nature of the goal. On the positive Microsoft signed its biggest renewable energy contract in May of this year. Let’s hope that migration to renewables can meet the rising demands of AI. #AI #environment #ESG #artificalintelligence

Google's 2024 Environmental Report reveals a nearly 50 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the past five years, driven largely by energy-intensive data centers supporting artificial intelligence operations. In 2023 alone, #Google emitted 14.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, marking a 48 percent rise from 2019 and a 13 percent increase from the previous year. The company attributes this surge to heightened energy demands from data centers and supply chain emissions exacerbated by #AI infrastructure investments. The report underscores the significant environmental impact of AI expansion, highlighting concerns about energy consumption and water usage in Google's operations. Follow Amanda Newman to stay up to date with technology. https://lnkd.in/ewVgakCm

Suprise it is not. Google’s greenhouse gas emissions have surged 48 per cent in the past five years due to the expansion of its data centres that underpin artificial intelligence systems, leaving its commitment to get to “net zero” by 2030 in doubt. The Silicon Valley company’s pollution amounted to 14.3mn tonnes of carbon equivalent in 2023, a 48 per cent increase from its 2019 baseline and a 13 per cent rise since last year, Google said in its annual environmental report on Tuesday. Google said the jump highlighted “the challenge of reducing emissions” at the same time as it invests in the build-out of large language models and their associated applications and infrastructure, admitting that “the future environmental impact of AI” was “complex and difficult to predict”.