UN chief calls for greater transparency on AI’s environmental impact

As AI continues to reshape industries and economies, concerns are growing about the environmental cost of the technology. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged AI companies to become far more transparent about the resources required to power their systems, particularly the energy, water, and land consumed by large-scale data centres.

Speaking during London Climate Action Week, Guterres highlighted the growing connection between the rapid expansion of AI and the broader challenges of climate change and energy security. He argued that the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure is often poorly understood, despite its increasing importance to the global economy.

Data centres driving rising energy demand

According to a recent United Nations study, data centres consumed more electricity in 2025 than all but ten countries worldwide. If current trends continue, their energy demand could place them among the five largest electricity consumers on the planet by 2030.

The same study found that the water consumption, energy use, and associated pollution linked to AI technologies are expected to increase sharply over the coming years. AI-related data centres accounted for roughly 1.5 percent of global electricity consumption in 2025, a figure projected to approach 3 percent by the end of the decade.

Proposal for environmental disclosure

To address these concerns, Guterres is advocating for a new international transparency initiative focused on AI. The proposal would encourage companies to measure and publicly report the environmental impact of their operations, including greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, land requirements, and electricity consumption.

The UN chief argued that local communities often have limited insight into the environmental consequences of large digital infrastructure projects being developed in their regions. More consistent reporting standards, he suggested, would help policymakers, businesses, and citizens make better-informed decisions.

A push for renewable energy

Guterres also called on AI companies to accelerate their transition to renewable energy sources. He believes operators of data centres should aim to power their facilities entirely with electricity generated from sources such as wind and solar energy by 2030.

The remarks reflect a broader global debate about the sustainability of artificial intelligence. While governments and companies continue to invest heavily in AI technologies, questions are increasingly being raised about the resources required to support their growth. For the United Nations, greater transparency is a crucial first step toward ensuring that technological progress does not come at the expense of environmental goals.