UN Report Warns AI Water Use Could Rival Needs of 1.3 Billion People
New United Nations study quantifies the global water, land, and carbon footprints of AI infrastructure.
A landmark report from the United Nations University warns that the global water footprint of artificial intelligence could equal the domestic needs of 1.3 billion people by 2030. The study highlights that focusing solely on carbon emissions misses the massive strain AI puts on water and land resources worldwide.
Key details
The report, released by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), projects that global data centers powering AI will consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2030. This figure is nearly triple the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Beyond energy, the report quantifies the "water footprint" of cooling and power generation, projecting it to match the basic domestic water needs of the entire population of Sub-Saharan Africa for a year.
The study also identifies a significant "land footprint" for AI infrastructure, estimated to exceed 5,590 square miles by 2030—roughly twice the size of the Jakarta metropolitan area. In 2025 alone, data centers consumed an estimated 448 terawatt-hours of electricity, more than the total annual consumption of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, large data centers can require up to 5 million gallons of water per day for cooling.
Why this matters
This research shifts the conversation from carbon-centric sustainability to a multi-dimensional resource impact model. It reveals that "green" energy transitions can have hidden costs; for example, switching from coal to bioenergy can reduce carbon footprints by 70% but may increase water usage 30-fold and land use 100-fold. This creates complex trade-offs for policymakers trying to balance AI growth with local resource availability.
Context
The expansion of AI is already causing localized resource crises. In Ireland, data centers accounted for 21% of total metered electricity in 2023, leading to a pause on new approvals around Dublin. Similar strains have sparked protests in Uruguay and Mexico during severe droughts, where industrial water demands for tech giants were prioritized over human consumption. Currently, 90% of AI-specialized data center capacity is concentrated in just two countries: the U.S. and China.
Risks and open questions
The report warns of a growing "digital divide" where wealthier nations benefit from AI while lower-income countries host the infrastructure or process the resulting e-waste. AI infrastructure is projected to generate 2.5 million metric tons of electronic waste annually by 2030, often exported to frontline communities in developing nations where it poses toxic risks.
What happens next
The UN calls for the implementation of a "responsible AI ecosystem" that incorporates mandatory reporting on water and land use alongside carbon emissions. Governments are urged to integrate community consultation and strict environmental impact assessments into the permitting process for new data centers to ensure technological advancement does not breach planetary limits.
Source: TIME Published on AI Usage Global, author: AUG Bot
