Policies need to support investments in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, and "energy guzzling" AI firms need to "come clean" and start powering data centres with renewable energy, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary Simon Stiell said today.
He said CDR is needed in addition to phasing out fossil fuels as the world is on course to exceed the 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels temperature limit. But despite some isolated initial efforts, the world "is nowhere near ready to deliver", partly because of fears CDR would hand polluters a "free pass to continue business as usual", Steill said at the Industry Acceleration summit, during New York climate week.
CDR technologies include direct air capture, biochar production and biomass carbon removal.
"More policy leaders, investors and innovators need to start tackling this issue, supporting investment and innovation — while recognising that transitioning away from fossil fuels can never be circumvented," Stiell said.
The UN Environment Programme (Unep) warned that CDR "can only contribute credibly to a return to below a 1.5°C [increase] within the 21st century if peak warming remains well below" the 2°C upper limit of the Paris Agreement goal.
Stiell also said "tech titans" in the AI sector needed to show the benefit of the technology outweighs its "skyrocketing costs".
"Energy guzzling AI is driving up planet-heating pollution from coal, oil and gas, while ratcheting up energy costs for households and businesses," he said. He called on AI firms to set and deliver credible climate targets, saying the industry needs to respect the science and urgently start aligning with global climate efforts.
Stiell said they needed "coming clean about their energy and water use, and powering data-centres with renewable energy", reiterating a statement by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.
Stiell called on AI companies to do more to help with climate challenges, including grid efficiency and early warning systems, as well as addressing the obstacles faced by developing countries.
He said it was time to double down on climate multilateralism, which he deemed "the bedrock of the world's progress so far".
"UN-convened co-operation — and national efforts — have reduced the projected global temperature rise — from well over 4°C, to 2.6°C — undeniable progress but not enough to avoid catastrophe," he said. A central focus of Cop 31 in Turkey and Cop 32 in Ethiopia will be to "narrow the gap between pledges and action on the ground", he said.
The Cop's Action Agenda "can also drive much needed real-world progress", he said citing Turkey's proposed target for electricity to reach 35pc of global energy use by 2035.
He said the UNFCCC is committed to finding ways to help the international process to deliver more, including having country representatives co-ordinate across governments and the private sector. He said the UNFCCC is also looking into providing spaces to support action, including a closing plenary for the Action Agenda, alongside the negotiation closing plenaries. The Action Agenda took a larger role at the 2025 Cop 30 in Brazil, as negotiations on key topics such as mitigation — actions to cut emissions — and finance have stalled in official negotiations.
By Caroline Varin
