Overview
- Google disclosed on Thursday that its reported greenhouse‑gas emissions rose 18% in 2025 with energy demand up 37% and water use up 34% as the company expanded AI data centres.
- Allianz Research estimates global data‑centre emissions at about 286 million tonnes of CO2 for 2025, a figure 57% higher than a comparable IEA calculation and based on full lifecycle accounting.
- The Allianz analysis finds roughly three quarters of data‑centre emissions come from electricity use and about one quarter from manufacturing servers and building facilities, which raises supply‑chain concerns in fossil‑heavy manufacturing countries.
- EU officials are reported to be considering a watered‑down draft that would relax timing and location rules for green certificates and allow some nuclear credits after heavy industry lobbying.
- Analysts warn that without faster grid decarbonization and new renewables the AI demand surge could drive new gas and coal generation, strain local water supplies and require clearer, location‑based rules to ensure real emission cuts.