US interior secretary says AI arms race matters more than climate change

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declared that winning the AI arms race is more critical to planetary survival than addressing climate change, arguing that America’s AI dominance requires immediate access to abundant energy sources. Speaking at a natural gas industry event in Italy, Burgum dismissed the $5 trillion global investment in renewables as ineffective and too slow to meet AI’s unprecedented energy demands.

What they’re saying: Burgum emphasized the urgency of powering AI infrastructure over climate concerns for future generations.

• “What’s going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race,” Burgum stated at the event promoting fossil fuels for AI power.
• “We need power to do that, and we need it right now,” he added, arguing the focus should be on “the humans on the planet today, not future generations.”

The big picture: The debate reflects a growing tension between AI development and environmental sustainability as artificial intelligence drives the highest electricity consumption in human history.

• Burgum acknowledged climate change as a “solvable” concern but positioned it as less urgent than maintaining AI superiority.
• He criticized global renewable energy investments as inflationary and insufficient for immediate AI data center needs.

Key details: Geopolitical factors are shaping both AI infrastructure and energy policy decisions.

• The US plans to end Russian uranium imports for nuclear energy by 2028, affecting power generation options.
• China is investing across all energy sources—coal, nuclear, wind, and solar—to maintain energy security and export advantages.
• The natural gas industry event emphasized cheap, abundant energy as essential for AI competitiveness.

Why this matters: Scientists estimate global temperatures are on track to rise 2.7-3 degrees Celsius by 2100, not the one degree Burgum referenced, with AI energy demands potentially accelerating this trend.

• The divide between AI expansion and sustainability goals is creating strategic policy conflicts.
• While AI could potentially unlock climate solutions, the immediate energy requirements may undermine long-term environmental objectives.