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Nvidia’s growth has driven sharp rises in supply-chain emissions
Nvidia’s rapid growth during the AI boom has brought a sharp rise in emissions across the supply chain, prompting environmental groups to call for stronger climate and human rights commitments. Greenpeace is urging interim CEO Colette Kress to invest in renewable energy and ensure Nvidia technology is used responsibly.
An analysis of Nvidia’s public disclosures found its supply-chain emissions rose 725 per cent from 2020, an increase of about 9.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. The company reported around 10.7 million tonnes of supply-chain emissions for fiscal 2026, while researchers estimated that emissions from the use of its chips could have reached 21 million tonnes in 2025. Nvidia’s directly operated facilities produced 9,822 tonnes in fiscal 2026, and the company says it matched all their electricity use with clean-energy purchases in 2025.
In short
- Nvidia’s supply-chain emissions rose 725 per cent since 2020.
- Researchers estimate chip use adds substantially to its climate impact.
- Greenpeace wants stronger climate and human rights commitments.
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The case for
Nvidia’s growth is helping power AI, and the emissions figures point to a climate impact that warrants stronger action across its supply chain. The company should use its influence to press suppliers towards renewable energy and set clearer safeguards for how its chips are used, while recognising that progress may require time and cooperation across a complex industry.
The case against
The reported increase reflects rapid growth in demand for computing, and supply-chain emissions are spread across suppliers and users rather than produced solely by Nvidia’s own facilities. The company’s clean-energy purchases for its directly operated sites show some action, and advocates may argue that practical progress depends on credible, measurable commitments that account for the energy systems and supply chains available.
Explained simply
Nvidia designs the specialised computer chips used to train and run many artificial intelligence systems. It sells them to technology companies and data-centre operators, whose facilities need substantial amounts of electricity to power and cool the equipment.
A company’s supply-chain emissions include greenhouse gases produced by suppliers making its products and other activities linked to its business. Emissions from customers’ use of a product are counted separately, so figures can differ depending on what is included and how they are estimated.
Greenpeace is among the environmental groups calling on Nvidia to strengthen its climate and human rights commitments. The issue matters because rapid growth in demand for AI chips can affect emissions across manufacturing, electricity use and the wider supply chain.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Jensen Huang was reckless with the environment, too”.