AI emissions, compared
Annual emissions, in million tonnes of CO2e
AI emissions, compared
Sources
Source: GreenIT, 2026; Eurostat; Citepa; ATAG. Aviation counts CO2 only. projetcelsius.com/en/ai · CC BY 4.0- GreenITImpacts environnementaux et sanitaires de l’intelligence artificielle dans le monde en 2025 et 2030September 2026 (new tab)
- Eurostatgreenhouse gas emissions (env_air_gge)2026 (new tab)
- CitepaSecten report 20262026 (new tab)
- Air Transport Action GroupFacts and figures, aviation emissions 20232024 (new tab)
The analysis
- In 2025, AI infrastructure would emit as much as Belgium, according to GreenIT.
- In 2030, it would be 6 times more, almost 2 times the emissions of France.
- This is the current high estimate: it assumes servers used continuously and a frozen electricity mix.
The figures
- Belgium, 2024: 98 Mt.
- AI, 2025 (GreenIT): 99 Mt.
- France, 2024: 367 Mt.
- AI, 2030 (GreenIT, projection): 636 Mt.
- Global aviation, 2023 (CO2 only, in MtCO2): 882 MtCO2.
Assumptions
- AI: servers, storage, network and data centres over their life cycle, excluding users' devices.
- A single study for AI; the IEA associates about 150 million tonnes of CO2 per year with data centres, all uses.
- Aviation is counted as CO2 only, without its non-CO2 effects.
- Territorial emissions for countries, life cycle for AI: the scopes are not identical.
More on climate
The whole Climate topic →Charts and maps
Chart
ClimateThe digital sector in global emissions1.4 to 3.9%of global emissions, according to estimatesChartClimateThe digital sector in France, in 3 categories4.4%of France's carbon footprintChartClimateGoogle and Microsoft emissions58 to 81%rise in emissions since the baseline yearChartClimateElectricity emissions, by contract or by grid1 to 4,400the same scope 2 at Meta, depending on the method
ClimateThe digital sector in global emissions1.4 to 3.9%of global emissions, according to estimatesChartClimateThe digital sector in France, in 3 categories4.4%of France's carbon footprintChartClimateGoogle and Microsoft emissions58 to 81%rise in emissions since the baseline yearChartClimateElectricity emissions, by contract or by grid1 to 4,400the same scope 2 at Meta, depending on the methodAnalyses
AnalysisClimate12 November 2026Why do estimates of AI's impact differ?Calculated with French electricity, one question to an AI emits 0.012 gram of CO2e; Mistral AI publishes 1.14 gram, more than 90 times as much. Its water use ranges from 0.26 to 45 millilitres depending on the published measurements. These figures are accurate; they do not cover the same scope.
Where does this figure come from?Climate20 October 2026"Meta's electricity emits only 1,358 tonnes of CO2e"In 2024, Meta reports 1,358 tonnes of CO2e for the electricity it buys, the annual footprint of 170 people in France. The same report also gives 5.97 million tonnes. Both of the 2 figures are accurate.Tools
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AI Impact DatabaseAll the figures, their methodology and their sources.
AI Ranking10 assistants rated out of 100: performance, ethics and environment.
AnalysesThe signed pieces: analyses, viewpoints, "Where does this figure come from?".
Charts and mapsYou are hereThe reference visuals, with their data and sources.
ToolsOpen calculations, your assumptions on the left, the result on the right.
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