UN chief urges AI firms to disclose environmental impact, calls for faster methane action

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on artificial intelligence companies to publicly disclose the environmental footprint of their data centers and power them entirely with renewable energy by 2030, linking surging electricity demand from AI to the broader climate crisis driven by fossil fuel dependence.

The appeal, delivered during a keynote address at London Climate Action Week on June 23, forms part of a six-point plan to accelerate the clean energy transition as the conflict in the Middle East underscores the vulnerability of oil-dependent economies.

"It's time to come clean," Guterres said, urging major AI firms to "measure and publicly disclose the full environmental impact" by reporting the carbon, water and land footprints of their operations.

Guterres said AI data centers already consume more electricity than most nations, with water use projected to match the basic needs of all 1.3 billion residents of sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 if growth continues unchecked.

The UN chief's intervention comes as shipping disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US have exposed the fragility of global energy supply chains reliant on fossil fuels. Guterres said the climate crisis and energy sovereignty challenges share a common root in oil dependence and require a unified response centered on clean energy, adaptation and climate justice.

"These crises may seem separate but they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels. And they demand the same answer: a fast, fair transition to clean energy and a surge in adaptation, resilience and climate justice for those already facing climate harm," he said. "The transition itself is no longer in question. It will be either managed or chaotic, fair or unequal, a source of stability or of greater division, and these choices are still ours to make."

Methane in focus

Central to Guterres' plan is a global call to action on methane. He said emissions must peak immediately and fall steeply this decade to reach net zero by 2050, with the G20 group of wealthy nations leading the effort as they account for roughly 80% of global emissions.

The UN chief outlined nine priority actions by 2030 targeting the three largest methane-emitting sectors: fossil fuels, agriculture and waste. The measures include fixing leaks and ending routine flaring in the fossil fuel sector, producing food more sustainably while reducing food loss and waste, and building cleaner, low-methane waste systems in cities and communities worldwide.

"The world phased out leaded gasoline. We eliminated ozone-depleting chemicals. Methane pollution must be next," Guterres said, adding that delivering the actions will require stronger political leadership, international cooperation and a major increase in methane finance this decade.

The UN also released a report alongside the call to action, explaining that the fossil fuel sector accounts for the largest share of methane mitigation potential by 2030 and offers the fastest, most cost-effective reduction opportunities.

"If all technically feasible measures were implemented, 72% of the total 2030 mitigation potential lies in the fossil fuel sector, 18% in the agriculture sector and 10% in the waste sector," the report said. "Some 72% of the global methane mitigation potential by 2030 lies with the G20."

Methane is a much more powerful climate pollutant than carbon dioxide, with estimates suggesting it is more than 80 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year time frame. The energy sector -- including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy -- accounts for nearly 40% of methane emissions from human activity.

Canada and the EU, co-conveners of the Global Methane Pledge, backed the call in a joint statement issued also on June 23. The pledge, launched in 2021, commits 159 participating countries and the EU to reducing global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. The co-conveners said achieving that target is crucial for meeting overall climate goals under the Paris Agreement, but acknowledged that accelerated efforts are needed.

"While urgent action is needed across all sources of methane, globally, the largest potential for immediate methane reductions is in the fossil fuel sector," Canada and the EU said. They pledged to promote innovation and implement strong regulatory frameworks to drive methane abatement, accelerate clean technology uptake and support energy security.

The statement noted that methane emissions reductions can contribute to energy security in tight global markets, adding that "every cubic meter of methane emitted heats the planet instead of a home."