UN Warns AI Data Centers' Water Use Will Match 1.3 Billion People's Annual Needs by 2030

According to the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health on June 3, global data centers' water consumption and energy use will double within the next four years. By 2030, data centers' annual water consumption will reach 9.3 trillion liters, equivalent to one year's basic water needs for 1.3 billion people, while electricity demand is projected to hit 945 terawatts, producing approximately 440 million tons of CO2. The report emphasizes that assessing AI's environmental cost requires considering not only carbon emissions but also water and land footprints, as low carbon does not equate to low overall environmental impact. Currently, AI accounts for 20% of data center energy consumption; this share is expected to rise to 40% by 2030, with the majority of energy consumption driven by user interaction and generative processes rather than model training.
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