World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres?
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Does World Environment Day have any meaning in the age of pushing AI?
World Environment Day: For decades, humans have been holding meetings and conferences to talk about reducing carbon emissions and reducing global warming. But with AI data centres, it seems we have forgotten that this is the world where we need to live, are practically killing it ourselves.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, there is no topic more important that AI that we need to talk about this year. Humans want to save Earth from climate change and global warming. Yet, we are pushing AI like there is no tomorrow. Data centres are at the centre of a major battle across the world because of the carbon emissions and the amount of water they use. A new study has also found that AI could consume nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity by 2030, and use as much water as can quench the thirst of every human on Earth for more than a year and a half. The carbon emissions will be equivalent to what the United Kingdom emitted in 2025. The electronic waste will be similar to throwing 250 Eiffel Towers annually.
Water is becoming a problem as complaints about dirty and muddy water in homes near data centres have soared. Data centres have large fans and chillers that work constantly to keep the systems cool, and in the process use tonnes of fresh water. Data Centres are now coming to India, a country with the highest population in the world, where most of them are struggling to gain access to basic needs like water.
Is the environmental impact of AI data centres being ignored in favour of advancing technology? Can humans afford to push a product that could make resources scarce for them as it grows? Here is how AI data centres are impacting the environment.
Energy strain of data centres
Data suggests that data centres globally consume 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This makes them the world's 11th largest electricity consumer, using more power than the entire nation of Saudi Arabia. The emissions based on this number are 208 million tons of CO2, almost the same as the annual emissions of Argentina. However, with more of them planned, the situation is expected to get worse. By 2030, their power consumption is projected to nearly double to 945 TWh, nearly 3% to 4% of all global electricity.
Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, says, "Data centres place tremendous pressure on energy grids through continuous high-power consumption, intense carbon emissions where electricity is sourced from fossil fuel generators, consume vast quantities of freshwater for cooling, and generate significant electronic waste due to rapid hardware obsolescence."
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To meet energy demands, tech companies have started building their own on-site fossil fuel plants. For example, xAI’s "Colossus" data center in Memphis installed over 30 natural gas turbines for daily use. This has caused a sudden surge in air pollution, leading to scrutiny and lawsuits.
AI data centres and the water footprint
This is one of the biggest problems posed by data centres. They require massive amounts of physical water to prevent processors from melting. Asking an LLM 30 to 50 questions leads to half a litre of fresh water vanishing. By 2030, AI's water footprint could reach the same as that of the annual domestic water needs of 1.3 billion people. The amount of water they use has triggered widespread protests. An average data centre can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day. In the US, these data centres have largely been built in areas where water is already scarce, such as Arizona, Texas, and the Colorado River Basin.
Data centres and the water crisis in India
In India, a data centre project is being planned in the Tarluvada village in Visakhapatnam district, a water-stressed region. "The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the data centres that support it demands careful scrutiny, particularly in a country like India, where water scarcity is already a growing crisis," Jabir Karat, Founder & CEO of Green Worms Waste Management Pvt. Ltd, told WION.
"The gap between water demand and supply continues to widen, while groundwater levels in many regions are declining at an alarming rate due to overextraction. Several cities have come close to experiencing a “Day Zero” scenario, and at least one has already faced severe water shortages. In this context, it is essential to evaluate the extent to which India can afford the environmental costs associated with the large-scale expansion of data centre infrastructure," he added.
Reaching equilibrium - Solution to environmental impact of data centres
Experts say stringent environmental compliance and carbon accounting standards are needed to mitigate the situation. "Governments and industry must mandate renewable-energy-powered data centres, adopt advanced liquid and immersion cooling technologies to minimise water consumption, and implement circular-economy practices for recycling and refurbishing electronic components," Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar says.
"Responsible development requires that environmental considerations remain central to decision-making. We must ensure that resource conservation and the well-being of future generations are not compromised in the pursuit of technological advancement without appropriate regulations and safeguards," Karat said.
