Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 15 AUGUST 2024

Climate Change And ESG Considerations In India's AI-Driven Future

S&R Associates
Explore more from S&R Associates

Google recently acknowledged in a 2024 environmental report that its 2030 net-zero goals were at risk because of developments related to artificial intelligence ("AI").

IndiaEnvironment
Rajat Sethi
Rajat Sethi
Deborshi Barat
Deborshi Barat

Google recently acknowledged in a 2024 environmental report that its 2030 net-zero goals were at risk because of developments related to artificial intelligence ("AI"). Google's carbon emissions have increased by almost 50% over the past five years. Its report states: "As we further integrate AI into our products, reducing emissions may be challenging."

Google's situation appears to be representative of the wider industry. Microsoft's 2024 Environmental Sustainability Report, like Google's, states that its emissions grew by almost 30% since 2020 due to the construction of more data centers that are "designed and optimized to support AI workloads."

However, barring a few exceptions like Google and Microsoft, most AI developers do not disclose, and are not required to disclose, their AI-related emissions. Meanwhile, a May 2024 Goldman Sachs report claims that the processing of an average ChatGPT query requires about 10 times as much electricity as a traditional

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

This insight/article is intended only as a general discussion of issues and is not intended for any solicitation of work. It should not be regarded as legal advice and no legal or business decision should be based on its content.

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

An Overview Of Extended Producer Responsibility For Plastic Waste Management

India generates an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day, of which a substantial share, approximately 10,556 tonnes daily, remains uncollected and enters landfills or the open environment. To address this, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (“MoEFCC”) has notified a national Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) framework for plastic packaging under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended from time to time.
IndiaEnvironment
S.S. Rana & Co.
S.S. Rana & Co.
Article

Greenwashing In India: Laws, Regulations And Compliance Risks For Businesses

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) considerations have increasingly become an important component of corporate decision-making, investor assessments and brand positioning in India. As businesses seek to demonstrate their environmental credentials, terms such as “green”, “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, “carbon neutral” and “environmentally friendly” are increasingly used in advertising, product packaging, corporate communications and sustainability disclosures.
IndiaEnvironment
King, Stubb & Kasiva
King, Stubb & Kasiva
Article

Emissions Trading And Carbon Credits In India: A Legal Perspective

India has pledged to reduce its GDP emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2070. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023 establishes a baseline-and-credit system requiring energy-intensive industries to meet greenhouse gas emission intensity targets or purchase carbon credit certificates. This framework shifts India's regulatory focus from energy efficiency to carbon intensity, creating both mandatory compliance obligations and voluntary offset opportunities.
IndiaEnvironment
Argus Partners
Argus Partners
Article

Supreme Court Stays Bombay High Court Order Releasing Thane Land From “Private Forest” Acquisition: Implications For Forest Land Classification, TDR And Development Rights

In a significant interim order impacting forest land disputes, urban development, and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the Bombay High Court’s judgment directing the release of approximately 193 acres of land at Manpada, Thane from acquisition under the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975.
IndiaEnvironment
King, Stubb & Kasiva
King, Stubb & Kasiva