Data Centers' Energy Consumption Surpasses Most Nations, Raising Environmental Concerns
A report from the United Nations University highlights the significant environmental impact of data centers, which in 2025 consumed 448 trillion watt-hours of electricity, surpassing the energy usage of all but ten countries globally. This consumption resulted in the emission of approximately 208 million tons of carbon dioxide, comparable to Argentina's emissions, and required about 1.2 trillion gallons of water. The report forecasts that by 2030, data centers will account for nearly 3% of the world's electricity use, with energy consumption expected to reach 935 trillion watt-hours. The growth in energy demand is largely driven by the increasing use of artificial intelligence, which currently accounts for 20% of data centers' energy use, projected to rise to 40% by 2030. 
