Greenpeace East Asia Warns of Fossil Gas Gamble Fueling AI Boom, Threatening Climate Targets

BANGKOK, THAILAND (17 September 2026) — As the global energy sector converges in Bangkok for the AixEnergy Summit, held concurrently with Gastech 2026, a stark warning has been issued by Greenpeace East Asia. The environmental organization asserts that the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, with its voracious appetite for energy, is being dangerously fueled by fossil gas, a strategy that jeopardizes global climate objectives and disproportionately impacts frontline communities.

The confluence of major energy corporations, leading hyperscale cloud providers, and government ministers at the AixEnergy Summit presents a critical juncture. Industry leaders, leveraging the projected surge in AI-driven data center capital expenditure—estimated to exceed US$700 billion in 2026 according to PwC [1]—are actively promoting fossil gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. Greenpeace East Asia contends that this approach is a high-risk gamble, presenting a false narrative that positions gas as an "indispensable baseline" power source to avert an AI-induced energy crisis.

Escalating AI Demand and the Fossil Fuel Nexus

The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of AI technologies are driving an unprecedented demand for computing power. This has translated into a significant increase in the construction and expansion of data centers, which are the physical backbone of the AI ecosystem. Hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services, are investing billions to scale their infrastructure, while chipmakers like Nvidia are experiencing exponential growth. This surge in demand is being met, in part, by the development of new energy infrastructure, with a significant portion of this infrastructure slated to be powered by fossil fuels, particularly natural gas.

Greenpeace’s analysis of discussions surrounding AI and energy at Gastech 2026 reveals what the organization deems critical flaws in the industry’s strategy for powering next-generation compute capacity. The organization points to the industry’s reliance on a "dangerous narrative" that frames natural gas as a necessary bridge fuel, obscuring the long-term environmental consequences of locking in fossil fuel infrastructure.

Greenpeace’s Critique of the AI Energy Strategy

At the heart of Greenpeace’s concerns is the industry’s purported justification for new gas infrastructure. The organization argues that tech corporations and utilities are exploiting the surge in energy demand as a pretext to secure multi-decade contracts for fossil gas and LNG. This, they contend, effectively locks in emissions-intensive energy sources for decades to come, undermining commitments to decarbonization and the transition to renewable energy.

The environmental group’s critique centers on several key points, which they have highlighted through their analysis of industry discussions:

• The Illusion of a "Transition Fuel": Greenpeace asserts that natural gas is not a genuine transition fuel but rather a potent driver of climate disruption. Continued reliance on gas infrastructure delays the necessary shift to truly clean energy sources.
• Locking in Fossil Fuel Infrastructure: The push to build new gas-fired power plants and LNG terminals to meet AI demand risks creating stranded assets and perpetuating fossil fuel dependence, contradicting global climate goals.
• Ignoring Renewable Potential: The organization emphasizes that regions with significant AI infrastructure development, particularly in Asia, possess abundant renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind, which could power the digital future sustainably.
• Disregard for Frontline Communities: The environmental and health impacts of fossil fuel extraction, processing, and combustion disproportionately affect communities located near these facilities, leading to degraded air quality, water contamination, and increased vulnerability to extreme weather events.

A Call for Immediate Action

In response to these concerns, Greenpeace is issuing a direct call to action for all stakeholders involved in the AI energy nexus. The organization demands that hyperscalers, chipmakers, energy developers, and governments immediately cease using the expansion of AI as a justification for new gas infrastructure.

Furthermore, Greenpeace insists that tech companies must implement and rigorously enforce strict 100% renewable energy requirements across their entire supply chains and data networks. This includes ensuring that all energy used for their operations, from semiconductor manufacturing to data center operations, is derived from clean, renewable sources.

Voices from the Frontlines

The urgency of Greenpeace’s message is underscored by statements from its campaigners across the Asia Pacific region, an area increasingly becoming the epicenter of global AI expansion.

Yeonho Yang, Senior Climate & Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia, articulated the critical situation in the region: "Asia cannot afford to let its digital growth pull the plug on its energy transition. Tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft and Google claim to be climate leaders and point to their net-zero targets, yet they are turning a blind eye as their suppliers and data center hosts construct massive gas plants to fuel compute power. From East Asian semiconductor hubs to Southeast Asian data center clusters, powering AI with fossil gas is a total climate failure. This is no longer a matter of voluntary targets. Policymakers must mandate 100% renewable procurement across big tech’s supply chains, and block energy suppliers from exploiting AI power demand to lock in new LNG infrastructure."

Manun Wongmasoh, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Thailand, highlighted the immediate impact on local communities: "In Thailand and across Southeast Asia, communities are already suffering the frontline impacts of extreme weather, facing severe flood and heat impacts driven by the climate crisis. Watching utility companies and tech firms lock our energy systems into decades of gas under the badge of AI progress is deeply frustrating. Gas is not a transition fuel—it drives climate disruption. Southeast Asia has abundant solar and wind potential that can power our digital future safely. The energy for tomorrow’s technology must be built on 100% clean, renewable systems."

Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, emphasized the global implications and the need for leadership: "The impacts of the climate crisis are escalating: As Australia takes the reins of global climate negotiations at COP31, it should be leading the region in phasing out coal and gas exports so we have a chance at avoiding the most extreme impacts of a hotter world—not opening up new gas projects to power hyperscale data centres running AI applications. Prolonging the life of polluting fossil fuels simply puts the profits of big tech and gas corporations ahead of communities and the natural world. It is indefensible. AI data centres should run on 100% renewable energy no matter where they are located, not serve as an excuse to fast-track new gas and keep polluting."

Regional Context: Asia Pacific at the Epicenter of Global AI Expansion

The Asia Pacific region is indeed at the forefront of the global AI infrastructure boom. East Asia, encompassing countries like Taiwan and South Korea, dominates global semiconductor manufacturing capacity, particularly in advanced nodes. Simultaneously, Southeast Asia, with nations such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, is experiencing a significant influx of data center investments, attracting tens of billions of dollars.

This rapid development, however, is accompanied by substantial risks. The reliance on fossil gas to meet the burgeoning energy demands of AI presents severe threats to local environments, air quality, and the livelihoods of communities in these key markets. Greenpeace’s research highlights several specific concerns:

• Air Quality Degradation: The combustion of fossil fuels, including natural gas, releases harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants contribute to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular problems, and other severe health issues. A health impact assessment by Greenpeace Korea on a proposed semiconductor cluster LNG power plant in Yongin highlighted these direct health risks [5]. Similarly, a study by CREA and Greenpeace East Asia on the electronics industry’s electricity consumption in Taiwan pointed to the health impacts of emissions from power generation [6].
• Water Scarcity and Pollution: The operation of power plants, including gas-fired facilities, requires significant amounts of water for cooling. This can strain local water resources, particularly in water-scarce regions. Furthermore, the discharge of heated water (thermal pollution) can harm aquatic ecosystems.
• Land Use and Environmental Impact: The construction of large-scale power plants and associated infrastructure, such as LNG terminals and pipelines, requires significant land use, potentially leading to habitat destruction and displacement of local populations.
• Climate Change Amplification: The primary concern remains the contribution of fossil gas to greenhouse gas emissions, which directly exacerbates the climate crisis. This is particularly concerning in a region highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing agricultural conditions. Greenpeace Southeast Asia has highlighted concerns regarding the proximity of data centers to residential areas, raising questions about the environmental footprint of these facilities [7].

The Broader Implications of a Fossil-Fueled AI Future

The implications of Greenpeace’s warning extend far beyond the immediate energy sector. A widespread adoption of fossil gas to power AI could have profound and lasting consequences:

• Undermining Climate Goals: The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have consistently emphasized the need for a rapid and deep reduction in fossil fuel use to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Locking in new gas infrastructure directly contradicts these scientific imperatives.
• Economic Risks: Countries and companies that heavily invest in new fossil fuel infrastructure for AI may face significant economic risks as the global transition to renewables accelerates. Stranded assets and the potential for carbon pricing mechanisms could lead to substantial financial losses.
• Social Injustice: The burden of environmental degradation and health impacts from fossil fuel use is often borne by marginalized communities. Relying on gas for AI growth risks exacerbating existing social inequalities.
• Missed Opportunities: A dedicated focus on renewable energy for AI could spur innovation in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and the development of sustainable energy technologies, creating new economic opportunities and green jobs. Greenpeace Australia Pacific has pointed out the draining energy consumption of AI data centers and the need for renewable solutions [8].

Looking Ahead: A Path Towards Sustainable AI

The AixEnergy Summit and Gastech 2026 provide a critical platform for discussing the future of energy. Greenpeace’s intervention serves as a crucial reminder that the rapid growth of AI must not come at the expense of the planet’s health and the well-being of its inhabitants.

The organization’s demands for 100% renewable energy procurement by tech giants and a moratorium on new gas infrastructure are not merely environmental aspirations; they are presented as essential prerequisites for a sustainable and equitable digital future. The coming years will be decisive in determining whether the AI revolution becomes a catalyst for a clean energy transition or a further entrenchment of fossil fuel dependence. The choices made today in Bangkok and in boardrooms worldwide will reverberate for decades to come, shaping both our technological advancement and the very habitability of our planet.

References:

[1] PwC, Global Data Centre Outlook (September 2026)
[2] Energy Connects, Regulators Urged to Move Faster as AI Surge Now Shapes Energy Markets (September 2026)
[3] Yahoo Finance, Baker Hughes CEO Sees No ‘Slowdown’ in Energy Projects, Says High Prices Could Spur New Supply: ‘Full Steam Ahead’ (September 2026)
[4] Arizton, Southeast Asia Data Center Market Investment to Reach USD 35.08 Billion by 2031 (August 2026)
[5] Greenpeace Korea, Health Impact Assessment of the Proposed Yongin Semiconductor Cluster LNG Power Plant (April 2026)
[6] Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) & Greenpeace East Asia, Health Impact Assessment of Electronics Industry Electricity Consumption in Taiwan (March 2026)
[7] Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Civil society calls for ban on data centres near residential areas (July 2026)
[8] Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Energy Vampires: The AI Data Centres Draining Australia (May 2026)

Media Contact:

Yujie Xue, International Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia, +852 5127 3416, [email protected]