A new study from Allianz Trade estimates that data centres emitted 286 million tonnes of CO2 in 2025, which is 57% higher than previous IEA estimates. The rise is driven by AI workloads, which already account for 15-20% of data centre electricity use and could reach 40% by 2030. Without cleaner power grids, emissions could more than double by 2030, leading to $154 billion in annual climate damages. The report highlights that emissions vary sharply by region. In India, electricity-linked emissions exceed 600g of CO2 per kWh, while in Norway or Sweden they are under 30g. Nearly 70% of global data centre emissions come from the US and China. Water use is also a growing concern, with data centres potentially requiring up to 1.8 trillion litres by 2030, comparable to Switzerland's annual consumption.
