COP31 presidency unveils AI pledge demanding clean energy for data centres

The presidency of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) unveiled a new pledge urging artificial‑intelligence (AI) firms to adopt transparent reporting on energy consumption and to transition their data‑centre operations to renewable power sources. The initiative was highlighted alongside remarks from UN climate chief Michael Müller, who warned that “Big Tech is on thin ice” if it fails to align its rapid expansion with the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement. The pledge, announced in a statement posted by Climate Home News, seeks to integrate the tech sector into the broader climate‑action framework that will be negotiated at the upcoming conference in Sharm El‑Sheikh.

Turkish Minister of Environment and Urbanisation Murat Kurum reinforced the call for accountability, emphasizing that AI companies must disclose the carbon intensity of their computing workloads and commit to sourcing electricity from clean‑energy grids. Kurum noted that the sector’s soaring demand for processing power has already contributed significantly to global emissions, and that transparent metrics are essential for policymakers to assess progress and enforce standards. By coupling mandatory disclosure with a clean‑energy requirement, the COP31 AI pledge aims to curb the environmental footprint of emerging technologies while encouraging industry leaders to invest in sustainable infrastructure, thereby supporting the overarching objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.