The COP31 host wants governments and companies to sign a political commitment on how AI is powered and measured, including disclosure of the energy that data centres use.
Türkiye’s COP31 presidency wants governments to back a new pledge on AI energy use. It set out plans on 21 September for what it calls the Antalya Pledge on AI. The launch came on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The presidency describes the pledge as a political commitment. It would set out how AI is designed, bought, powered, deployed, measured and governed so that it supports climate action. A draft is due before the summit opens in Antalya in November.
Data centre demand is concentrated
The timing follows a surge in data centre construction led by the US and China. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects the two to drive nearly 80% of the global rise in data centre power use by 2030.
In the US, the IEA expects demand to climb by about 240 terawatt-hours (TWh). That is roughly 130% above 2024 levels. Meanwhile, China’s use could rise by about 175TWh, or 170%.
Europe is set to add more than 45TWh, while Japan’s demand could grow by around 15TWh. For scale, one TWh can power roughly 100,000 average US homes for a year, although the figure varies by country.
Disclosure and clean power
The COP31 host said talks would cover where AI sites go. They would also cover whether operators disclose their power use, secure new clean supply and avoid adding strain to stretched grids.
Murat Kurum, COP31 President-Designate and Türkiye’s environment and urban planning minister, said governments must take a firmer role. “We must openly discuss AI’s growing energy consumption and it is time for governments to start setting the terms,” he said.
He added: “We expect companies to be transparent about their energy use and to power their operations with clean energy.” So far, the presidency hasn’t published draft text, so the scope of any reporting on AI energy use remains unclear.
A dedicated day for technology
The presidency also announced an AI for Clean Technologies Initiative. It will develop AI-enabled pilot projects in areas such as smart energy systems and green industry. In turn, it will link those projects with industry partners and investors.
COP31 is also expected to include a dedicated day on technology and AI. That gives the sector its own slot in the summit programme.
The move comes as technology firms look for ways to ease pressure on grids. For instance, Google and Nvidia have launched an alliance for flexible data centres that can shift load when networks are tight.
The 35-by-35 electrification pledge
Alongside the AI measures, Türkiye launched a proposed 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge. It would lift electricity’s share of global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035.
The plan calls for electric buildings, transport and industry, backed by clean power, storage and modern grids. It accepts that countries will follow different national paths. However, it stresses the need for finance and joint work, above all for developing countries.
Türkiye plans a mechanism to track collective progress and a forum to share knowledge and build capacity. Other measures include help for developing countries to assess grid needs and reach finance. There is also a platform for greener freight corridors and a buildings compact.
That compact targets at least a 25% cut in the energy use intensity of buildings by 2035. The IEA will assess electrification challenges ahead of a high-level dialogue with world leaders. Meanwhile, IRENA will support an Electrification Day during New York Climate Week.
Why AI energy use is on the agenda
The pledge ties two of the presidency’s themes together. More electrification means more demand on grids, and data centres are among the fastest-growing new loads. As a result, how AI energy use is reported and supplied will shape how easily other sectors can electrify.
Much will depend on who signs. The pledge is voluntary, and the biggest growth in demand sits in the US and China. Still, a public commitment on disclosure would give investors and grid operators a clearer view of where AI demand is heading.
