UN Report: AI Data Centres Could Use Water Equal to Needs of 1.3 Billion People by 2030

A United Nations University report warns that artificial‑intelligence systems will dramatically increase global water and electricity consumption by the end of the decade. AI‑powered data centres are projected to require enough water each year to meet the domestic needs of roughly 1.3 billion people and to consume about 945 terawatt‑hours of electricity – roughly three times the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria.

The study notes that everyday interactions with AI account for 80‑90 % of total AI‑related energy demand, and that the environmental impact of AI extends beyond carbon emissions to include substantial water, land and power‑grid requirements. Researchers urge governments, technology companies and users to broaden sustainability assessments of AI to cover water, energy and land‑use impacts, while clarifying that the findings are not a call to halt AI development.