Tech giants' emissions soar due to AI, fueling fossil fuel power plant construction

The rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented electricity demand and a surge in carbon emissions from major technology giants, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

“

Microsoft’s emissions have jumped 80% in five years, Google’s by 18% in one year: generative AI imposes unprecedented electrical growth on tech giants.

Microsoft reported an 80% increase in its real emissions and a 244% jump in electricity consumption since 2020, now consuming as much power as Denmark. Analysis suggests that three recently announced fossil gas power plants to support Microsoft's data centers could double its carbon footprint by 2028. These projects, totaling 4.75 gigawatts, are equivalent to the energy consumption of nearly 4 million American homes.

Google has seen a 37% rise in electricity consumption and an 18% increase in total emissions over the past year. Amazon reported a 16% rise in annual emissions, exceeding 80 million tons of CO2 equivalent, alongside a 34% increase in electricity usage. This escalating demand is leading tech companies to build new fossil fuel power plants to continuously supply their data centers.

“

According to an analysis by the NGO Stand.earth, three recently announced fossil gas power plants to supply data centers could alone double the carbon footprint of Microsoft's data centers by 2028.

Globally, data centers consumed 484 terawatt-hours in 2025, nearly matching France's total electricity production. The UN's Institute for Water, Environment and Health projects that this consumption could double by 2030. Furthermore, the UN warns that by the same year, data centers' water consumption will equal that of all of sub-Saharan Africa, and their land use will be equivalent to one-third of Switzerland's territory.

“

According to a report by the UN's Institute for Water, Environment and Health, published in June, these infrastructures consumed 484 terawatt-hours worldwide in 2025, almost as much as French electricity production, a figure set to double by 2030.