Since 2019, Google’s carbon emissions have surged by 51%, with artificial intelligence proving to be a hindrance to tech firms’ sustainability initiatives.

While companies are pouring resources into renewable energy and carbon capture technologies, they struggle to manage emissions in Range 3, which originates further down the supply chain and is significantly influenced by the expanding data center capabilities required for artificial intelligence.

The company noted a 27% year-on-year increase as it grapples with decarbonization amidst rising energy demands.

Data centers are crucial for training and operating AI models like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT-4. The International Energy Agency projects that the total electricity consumption of data centers could reach double the level from 2022, with Japan’s electricity demand expected to hit 1,000 TWh (terawatt hours) by 2026. AI accounts for 4.5% of global energy production, according to estimates from Semianalysis for the year 2030.

The report expresses concerns that the rapid advancement of AI may trigger “nonlinear growth in energy demand,” complicating predictions for future energy requirements and emissions trajectories.

Additionally, Google pointed out the slow progress in new low-carbon power generation technologies. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are compact nuclear power plants designed for quick deployment to support the grid, are seen as a promising solution to lower the carbon footprint of data centers. Areas hosting numerous data centers could benefit from one or more SMRs to significantly cut down their electricity-related carbon emissions.

According to the report, the development of these technologies is lagging behind schedule. “The main obstacle is the slow rollout of large-scale carbon-free energy technologies, making it highly challenging to reach goals by 2030.

It further indicated that Scope 3 emissions pose a “challenge,” with Google’s total ambitions representing 11.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent, marking an 11% year-on-year rise since 2019, equating to a 51% increase. This is primarily driven by heightened emissions from the supply chain, with Scope 3 emissions surging by 22% in 2024.

Google has made significant strides in acquiring clean energy, signing over 170 contracts for more than 22 gigawatts since 2010. In 2024, 25 of these contracts added 2.5GW of fresh clean energy to its operations, marking a record year in clean energy transactions with an agreement totaling 8GW.

The company has also achieved one of its environmental goals ahead of schedule by eliminating plastic packaging. Google announced that all new products launched and produced in 2024 will be entirely plastic-free. This goal was initially set for the end of 2025.

The report adds that AI may offer a “net positive potential” for the climate, with aspirations that emissions reductions facilitated by AI applications will outweigh the emissions generated by AI itself, including the energy used by data centers.

Google envisions aiding individuals, cities, and other partners in collectively lowering carbon equivalent emissions by 2030 through AI-powered products. These innovations can enhance energy usage predictions, reduce waste, and optimize solar panel placement to maximize energy generation.