By 2030, the boom in data centers worldwide could generate around 2.5 billion tons of CO₂e emissions annually – around 40 percent of the USA’s current annual emissions. This is according to a new report by investment bank Morgan Stanley published on Monday. Large tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon are the main drivers of this rapid increase with their investments in artificial intelligence and cloud solutions. However, Morgan Stanley also sees opportunities for the AI boom to drive investment in decarbonization. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) are cited as examples. However, these technologies are still expensive and not ready for large-scale use. Their future benefits are disputed. rtr/lb/ae