A new UN University study warns that AI's environmental footprint goes far beyond carbon emissions. By 2030, data centers could consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, and AI-related water use may equal the basic needs of 1.3 billion people. The land footprint could exceed 14,500 square kilometers, with daily AI usage accounting for 80 to 90 percent of total energy demand. The report highlights that efficiency gains alone won't solve the problem due to rebound effects, and that most AI computing capacity is concentrated in just two countries. It calls for integrating AI infrastructure into energy, water, and land-use planning, and for designing systems that minimize resource consumption across their lifecycle.
