TECHNOLOGYJun 3 · 14:02 UTCWTOP DCWTOP Staff

UN calculates nation-sized environmental footprints for AI and data centers

A UN University report reveals that global data centers' energy use and carbon emissions rival those of major countries, with projections showing a near doubling by 2030 driven by AI growth. The report highlights 448 trillion watt-hours of electricity used in 2023, equivalent to all but 10 countries, and warns of significant water consumption and CO2 emissions comparable to Argentina.

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United Nations UniversityorganizationKaveh Madanipersondata centerstopicartificial intelligencetopicFengqi YoupersonJean SupersonCaleb MaxpersonData Center Coalitionorganization

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