The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is consuming planetary resources at an unsustainable rate, a United Nations (UN) study has warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report, by the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), reveals that data centres now use more electricity than entire nations such as Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2030, the technology’s global water footprint is projected to hit 9.3 trillion litres \u2014 enough to meet the drinking needs of the world’s population for more than a year and a half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers warn that the public focus on carbon emissions has obscured the “profoundly physical” toll of the technology on water supplies, land use and toxic electronic waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Though often described as weightless and virtual, the reality of AI is profoundly physical,” said Tshilidzi Marwala, rector of the United Nations University and a UN under-secretary-general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Behind every prompt, image or video lies a growing infrastructure of energy systems, water withdrawals, land use, mineral extraction and electronic waste.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UN report calculated that data centres consumed 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2025, which would rank them as the world’s 11th-largest electricity consumer if they were a country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2030, this figure is projected to rise to 945TWh, representing nearly 3% of global electricity consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study found that day-to-day use of AI models \u2014 known as inference \u2014 accounts for 80% to 90% of their total energy consumption, far outstripping the power needed to train them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report also highlights how the resources required vary dramatically by task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While a single text prompt requires very little energy, generating an AI image uses enough electricity to power a 10-watt LED bulb for 17 minutes and consumes about two tablespoons (29ml) of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A high-complexity AI video requires enough power to run the same light bulb for 42 hours, consuming 4.1 litres of water \u2014 almost a two-day supply of drinking water for one person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expansion is also creating a deep “digital divide”, the UN warns. As of 2025, 90% of global AI computing capacity was concentrated in just two countries: the US and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the environmental costs of mineral extraction and disposing of up to 2.5 million tonnes of toxic e-waste each year by 2030 are disproportionately borne by poorer nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representatives from the technology sector said they were actively working to address the environmental footprint of their systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh Levi, president of the US-based Data Center Coalition, said the industry remains committed to working with policymakers and local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are committed to ensuring that as data centres grow, they do so responsibly, transparently, and in ways that reflect the best available practices,” Levi said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other industry figures pointed to the potential benefits of the technology, arguing that AI could help manage resource grids more efficiently and accelerate climate science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UN researchers have called for a “responsible AI ecosystem” that enforces mandatory environmental disclosures, greater community consultation, and stricter government standards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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