Center for Biological Diversity Warns AI Data Centers Threaten Climate Goals

The Center for Biological Diversity released a report titled 'Data Crunch' on October 29, 2025, warning that the rapid growth of AI data centers threatens the climate goals of the United States for 2035. The report indicates that these facilities, which rely heavily on coal and fracked gas, could represent 10% of total economy-wide emissions and 44% of the power sector emissions permitted under the nation's nationally determined contribution.

To maintain current climate targets, the report states that other electricity-consuming sectors would need to increase carbon-emissions cuts by 60%. The organization argues that the Trump administration is accelerating an 'AI vortex' by fast-tracking developments fueled by fossil fuels, a move that contradicts the 2023 Dubai climate summit agreement to transition away from dirty energy.

The nonprofit urges the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to incorporate AI emissions into formal climate reporting. Additionally, the report recommends implementing public-interest frameworks for permitting and requiring mandatory on-site renewable energy storage to mitigate the environmental impact of the data center boom.