A recent report from the University of Cambridge warns that AI could cause a 25-fold increase in global tech sector energy consumption by 2040, threatening to strain power grids and spike carbon emissions.

Tech giants are exploring nuclear power options, including agreements like Microsoft's reactivation of the Three Mile Island plant, to meet the rising energy demands driven by AI development.

While companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon report rising emissions, independent estimates suggest their actual greenhouse gas emissions may be significantly higher, with some relying on nuclear power to meet their energy needs.

UK AI energy policies are criticized for lacking civil society input and not addressing the broader energy trade-offs necessary to sustain AI-driven economic growth, emphasizing the need for transparency.

Although AI has potential benefits for climate solutions, critics warn that current reliance on renewable certificates and offsets is insufficient, and the increasing energy demands of AI could undermine global climate commitments.

Data centers currently account for about 1.5% of global emissions, but projections suggest this could rise to 8% by 2040, surpassing emissions from air travel, driven by AI's expansion.

The report recommends updating UK policies to include AI's environmental impact, with specific targets for data centers, stricter energy efficiency standards, and transparent reporting to manage the sector's growth.

Data centers, especially in regions like Ireland, already consume up to 20% of local electricity, with major countries like the US, China, and Europe using 2-4% of their national electricity for data infrastructure, highlighting regional disparities.

Projected energy demands from the tech industry could increase between five and twenty-five times, driven by AI growth, further straining energy infrastructure and increasing emissions.

Even conservative estimates project a fivefold rise in AI-related energy needs over the next 15 years, which could jeopardize countries' net zero emission goals, such as the UK's 2050 target.