UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on companies in the field of artificial intelligence to disclose data on their impact on climate and nature.
Speaking at London Climate Action Week, he proposed launching an Initiative on Environmental Transparency of AI. Companies should measure and publish information on carbon emissions, water consumption, and land use.
Guterres stressed that AI companies should also commit to powering data centers exclusively with renewable energy by the year 2030.
"No more hidden costs," he said. "It's time to tell the truth."
It is estimated that data centers needed for AI operation already consume about 1,5% of global electricity. By 2030, this share could grow to almost 3%.
The initiative follows a report by the United Nations University detailing AI's growing demands for energy, water, and land. Experts note that without transparency, local communities remain unaware of the consequences of building new data centers.
Pressure on the industry is growing both from governments and from residents of regions where such facilities appear. Many companies so far limit themselves to voluntary promises, but there is still no standardized reporting.
How will this initiative affect the pace of AI development and climate goals?
Guterres linked the AI issue to a broader agenda: the world is still far from meeting climate commitments, and transparency in energy consumption is one step toward an honest transition to clean sources.
