Greenhouse gases have long been a problem that society has tried to either overcome or remove from the atmosphere, typically to no avail. Recently, environmental activists and scientists alike have noticed a pattern between the rise in greenhouse gas emissions and the rise in AI popularity.

Greenhouse Gases: What they are & Why they are bad

Greenhouse gases are commonly defined as ‘any gas that has the property of absorbing infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface’. In other words, types of gases that trap heat in our atmosphere. A few examples of these gases would be Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), and various Fluorinated gases. CO2 emissions accounted for 79.7% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, making it the largest contributor to climate change.

Climate change is a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. Typically, climate change occurs naturally, such as through massive volcanic eruptions or solar flares, both of which can heat the Earth. However, in recent years, climate change has become a human-caused phenomenon.

Humans contribute to climate change every day. This can take many forms, such as burning fossil fuels or cutting down entire forests, all for the sake of convenience and building.

Emissions v.s. AI

Although greenhouse gas emissions are caused by many factors, a common contributor in recent years has been the excessive use of AI. 

Data from ‘Statista’ shows that in the 1980s, greenhouse gas emissions peaked at 19.48 billion tons worldwide, slightly above China’s annual average of 13.5 billion tons of CO2. Statista research also shows that global greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 were 38.11 billion tons, twice those in 1980.

How do these numbers relate to AI? Well, AI has been under development since 1950, starting with Alan Turing, the ‘Father of the computer’. He initiated the concept of AI with the ‘Turing test’, a theory that tests whether a machine is capable of intelligence and of being indistinguishable from human behavior. This test was the basis for AI research and development.

Although AI started in the 50s, it didn’t become relevant until the 80s. Many companies began investing in and incorporating AI into their system, creating hype and expectations for the future. People expected things like robots, AI language systems, advanced technology, and other futuristic features. Eventually, this ideal fell apart when companies began withdrawing their investments due to the ‘weak technology’.

AI has gone from a concept to an important factor in global warming. In 1980, the average person had little to no access to AI, and few companies used it for software development. As of 2025, 66% of people in the U.S. use AI regularly, and 78% of organizations and companies do as well. 92% of students admit to using AI, and 18% of them admit to submitting AI-generated assignments.

How AI relates to global warming

The comparison between the rise in the use of generative AI and the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions shows that AI is an important factor in global warming.

According to Climate Impact Partners, “These models don’t run on a single computer. They require massive data centers packed with specialized chips, such as GPUs (graphics processing units) and TPUs (tensor processing units). These machines work around the clock, often for weeks or months, consuming electricity that may or may not come from renewable sources.”

These AI data centers run continuously and consume resources such as water and energy, as well as large amounts of materials used to build the centers and the computers themselves. Google’s carbon emissions alone have increased by about 50% over the past five years due to the extensive use of AI.

Scientific Solutions

Many scientists have conducted research to find ways to reduce AI greenhouse gas emissions without ignoring AI altogether. Turning off Auto-AI features can help reduce AI use in daily use. Using AI software that is already trained can also reduce emissions. Choosing to only use ‘Green AI,’ which are several AI models that are smaller and use renewable energy instead of nonrenewable resources, like what ChatGPT uses. 

The use of AI does not have to be negative or full of consequences. Using these services responsibly and conservatively can help create a greener future and a world with lower atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

The use of generative AI in a personal sense is incredibly destructive and unnecessary. Although it isn’t the main reason for our rising temperatures, AI still plays a role and is a factor we can control today. We do not have to use AI for bad or excessively; we can use it for productive purposes without feeling like we set the world on fire with one question.