United Nations University researchers project that AI data centers could consume 9.3 trillion liters of water annually by 2030. That amount equals the basic water needs of 1.3 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report looks beyond carbon emissions to include water, electricity, and land use. AI facilities could also require 945 terawatt-hours of electricity and over 14,500 square kilometers of land by 2030. The research highlights trade-offs in how we measure environmental impact. Switching from coal to bioenergy can cut carbon by 70 percent but increase water use more than thirty-fold and land use a hundred-fold. The authors argue that carbon-only accounting misses pressure on local water supplies and grids. They call for comparable disclosure requirements so communities can evaluate proposed data centers on water demand, electricity sourcing, land use, and hardware turnover.
