AI data centers could use 945 TWh of electricity and water for 1.3 billion people by 2030, UN study warns

A new report from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU INWEH) warns that AI data centers will consume 945 terawatt hours of electricity annually by 2030, roughly three times the combined electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. The water footprint from cooling those servers could equal the annual water needs of 1.3 billion people in Sub Saharan Africa. The land footprint may exceed 5,590 square miles, twice the size of metro Jakarta. The study highlights trade offs in climate action. Switching from coal to bioenergy cuts carbon emissions by about 70 percent but increases water consumption more than 30 times and land use up to 100 times. Lead author Miriam Aczel notes that what looks like an environmentally sustainable choice can create problems in other areas. The report urges regulators to include water, land, and social impacts in licensing and environmental assessments for AI infrastructure.