# ITU report links AI infrastructure growth to rising tech-sector emissions

_Published Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 6:06 AM EDT · Science, Infrastructure · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![ITU report links AI infrastructure growth to rising tech-sector emissions — Primary](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2026/datacenter.jpg)

A 2026 report from the International Telecommunication Union and World Benchmarking Alliance says major AI and cloud providers' emissions rose by as much as 239% from 2020 to 2024 as energy needs and infrastructure expanded. The report assessed 200 technology companies, which together reported 301 million tonnes of operational emissions and consumed close to 500 TWh of electricity in 2024. Only 25 companies said they sourced 100% renewable electricity, while 85 were assessed as on track on climate progress.

## Sources

- [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-09-ai-boom-tech-firms-climate.html)

---
Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/g8oj3HBNagURf1agUgTdeN
Published: 2026-09-03T10:06:31.900Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-03T08:40:02.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-18T23:49:09.181Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)