Emissions from AI chip plants jump fourfold as Asia banks on dirty fuels: Greenpeace

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🗞️ Driving the news: Greenpeace East Asia has reported a fourfold increase in carbon dioxide emissions from AI chip manufacturing in 2024, as electricity consumption for the sector soared to 984 GWh
• The emissions spike is attributed to continued reliance on fossil fuels in key manufacturing regions including Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan
• Despite booming profits, major AI hardware firms like Nvidia and AMD are reportedly failing to drive clean energy investment across their supply chains

🔭 The context: AI chip demand surged globally following the rapid adoption of generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT and its counterparts in China
• While chip design companies operate fabless models, the emissions burden falls on manufacturers in East Asia, where power grids remain heavily dependent on coal and gas
• The AI hardware boom is now contributing to infrastructure lock-ins in fossil fuels under the guise of meeting energy demand

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Without a transition to renewable power in semiconductor manufacturing hubs, the AI industry risks becoming a major emissions driver
• The energy intensity of chip fabrication — compounded by AI's growing computational demands — poses a significant threat to climate goals
• This highlights the urgent need for tech companies to align their supply chains with net-zero pathways and invest directly in clean energy

⏭️ What's next: Greenpeace is calling on governments and chipmakers to commit to clean energy procurement and halt fossil fuel expansion tied to AI-related growth
• Pressure is mounting for greater transparency on Scope 3 emissions and the decarbonisation of electronics supply chains
• Upcoming shareholder meetings and ESG reporting cycles may prompt reassessment of climate strategies across the AI and semiconductor sectors

💬 One quote: “AI chipmaking is being leveraged to justify new fossil fuel capacity – demand that could, and should, be met by renewable energy sources.” – Katrin Wu, Greenpeace East Asia

📈 One stat: Emissions from AI chip manufacturing jumped to 453,600 metric tons of CO₂ in 2024 — a fourfold increase from the previous year

See here detailed sustainability performance of companies like Greenpeace, Nvidia, and Samsung SDI

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