Study finds data center CO2 emissions 57% higher than previous estimates, driven by AI boom
By
FRANKFURT
Summary
A new study by Allianz Trade estimates that data centers emitted 286 million tonnes of CO2 in 2025 — 57% higher than previous estimates. The rapid expansion of data centers, driven by the AI boom and increasing computing power demands, is significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions beyond what was previously understood.
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Key quotes
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The sprawling, power-hungry sites, used to store critical IT infrastructure like servers, are being built worldwide by companies and countries as AI applications gobble ever greater computing power.
This has helped to boost their greenhouse gas emissions, with a new study by Allianz Trade estimating the centers emitted 286 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2025.
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