Over the past five years, Google has experienced a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions, amounting to almost 50%. The company announced this in its blog.
This growth is associated with energy-intensive data processing centers necessary for the operation of artificial intelligence. In line with its self-proclaimed goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, the company announced its achievements in its 2024 report.
According to the report, Google emitted 14.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023, which is 48 % — more than in 2019 and 13% more than a year earlier. The main reason for this significant increase is the increase in energy consumption of data centers and emissions in the supply chain. In particular, the increase in energy demand comes from the expected investment in technical infrastructure related to the development of artificial intelligence.
For example, researchers have found that creating a single image with artificial intelligence can use as much energy as charging smartphone. The report also notes that energy intensity and the use of AI functions lead to an increase in energy consumption in general.