MEP Moritz Körner (Renew) has asked the European Commission whether it will update its assessment of AI-related carbon emissions and whether the EU can remain competitive in AI while meeting its climate targets. The question, submitted on 15 July 2026, follows the UK government's admission that carbon emissions from data centres could be 100 times greater than previously thought. Revised UK analysis shows AI could emit 123 million metric tonnes of CO2 between 2025 and 2035, equivalent to 3.4 percent of UK emissions, far exceeding a July 2025 forecast of 0.142 MtCO2 in 2035.
first, whether the Commission will update its reply to his earlier parliamentary question (E-004535/2025) in light of the new UK data; second, whether the Commission expects the EU to remain competitive in AI while maintaining all its emissions targets. The question signals a policy tension between digital innovation and climate commitments, impacting EU tech firms, data centre operators, environmental regulators, and AI developers.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it views the UK revision as relevant to EU modelling and whether it sees a trade-off between AI competitiveness and emissions reduction. The question highlights growing scrutiny of AI's environmental footprint as EU institutions advance both the AI Act and the European Green Deal.