"Caution advised against blind optimism that UK's advancements in AI won't disrupt climate targets, according to a new warning"
In a bid to lead the global AI revolution while maintaining its climate commitments, the UK government is integrating sustainability into its AI strategy and energy planning.
The UK Government's revised AI Opportunities Action Plan prioritises secure and sustainable AI infrastructure, alongside developing a skilled workforce and high-quality data. The plan aims to embed ethics, safety, and trust into AI systems while addressing societal challenges such as climate change [1].
To tackle the significant energy demands and carbon footprint of AI and Big Tech, the UK founded the AI Energy Council in April 2025. This cross-sector body includes government ministers, major tech firms, and energy providers. Its mission is to ensure the energy system can sustainably support the anticipated twenty-fold increase in public AI compute capacity over five years by promoting renewable energy solutions and integrating AI safely within the energy system [2].
Beyond managing AI's energy consumption, AI itself is recognised as a tool to help meet climate goals. The government is promoting the use of AI to optimise energy systems, reduce emissions, and drive innovation in renewable energy technologies [2][1].
The University of Cambridge's Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy has issued a report warning that the UK's push to lead in AI could derail its climate targets. Professor John Naughton, chair of the Minderoo Centre's advisory board, called for greater transparency about AI's impacts, stating that every megawatt allocated to AI data centres will be a megawatt unavailable for housing or manufacturing [3].
The report predicts a 25-fold increase in the global tech sector's energy use by 2040, with a more conservative scenario suggesting a five-fold rise over the next 15 years. The report also criticises the UK's new AI Energy Council for excluding civil society voices, as it currently consists entirely of energy bodies and tech companies [3].
The report stresses that the real footprint of Big Tech's emissions is likely higher due to limited transparency, inconsistent emissions accounting, and a lack of independent audits. Google and Microsoft's carbon emissions have soared by 51% and 41%, respectively, since 2019, according to the report [3].
The combined investment from Vantage Data Centres, Nscale, and Kyndryl amounts to £14bn for building out AI infrastructure across the UK [4]. The report calls for the UK's energy authority, Ofgem, to impose strict energy efficiency targets for data centres [3].
The Minderoo Centre's report also suggests that government departments should tie AI funding to clean power use. Governments, according to Professor Naughton, need to be straight with the public about the inevitable energy trade-offs that will come with doubling down on AI as an engine of economic growth [3].
In some countries, computing power makes up a larger proportion of energy. In Ireland, for instance, data centres are now responsible for up to 20% of electricity use [3]. The UK is positioning itself as a global hub for AI, but the Minderoo Centre's report warns that oversight is lacking [3].
In conclusion, the UK's approach to balancing AI leadership and climate goals involves building sustainable and secure AI infrastructure, creating cross-sector initiatives like the AI Energy Council to align AI's energy needs with renewable sources, harnessing AI capabilities to support the net zero transition, and embedding ethical, safe, and trusted AI practices that include climate considerations. This integrated and strategic framework positions the UK to lead in AI while proactively managing the technology's environmental impact and contributing to its climate commitments [1][2][3].
References: [1] GOV.UK (2023). AI Opportunities Action Plan. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-opportunities-action-plan [2] UK Government (2025). AI Energy Council. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ai-energy-council [3] Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy (2025). The Energy Impact of AI: A Minderoo Centre Report. https://www.minderoo.org.uk/reports/the-energy-impact-of-ai [4] The Guardian (2025). Billions poured into AI infrastructure in UK. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/01/billions-poured-into-ai-infrastructure-in-uk
The UK Government's revised AI Opportunities Action Plan includes the priority of establishing sustainable and secure AI infrastructure, aiming to address the significant energy demands and carbon footprint of AI and Big Tech through integrating renewable energy solutions and promoting safe AI within the energy system.
In an effort to harness AI capabilities to support the net zero transition and drive innovation in renewable energy technologies, the UK is promoting the use of AI to optimize energy systems and reduce emissions.
