Amazon, Microsoft, and Google run data centers in extremely dry areas worldwide, using significant amounts of water and planning to build more. As Donald Trump shows his support for them, these tech giants are set to establish hundreds of data centers globally and in the US, impacting regions already facing water scarcity. The founder of the Association for Ethical Technology, Lorena Jam Palasi, highlights the importance of water management in such communities facing resource challenges.
Efforts to reduce water consumption by Amazon have faced internal opposition, signaling concerns about sustainability within the company. Amazon and Google defend their development plans, addressing water shortages as a key consideration. However, Microsoft declined to comment on this issue.
Water plays a crucial role in the cooling systems of data centers, impacting global storage demands and AI model training. By analyzing industry sources, Sourcematerial reveals the presence of active and developing data centers in water-stressed regions worldwide, with a significant increase in data center numbers driven by cloud computing and AI demand.
Despite the secrecy around data center locations, Sourcematerial maps 632 data centers owned by Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, shedding light on their expansion plans and water usage challenges in water-scarce areas.
The three tech giants aim to increase their data center footprint globally, posing challenges in regions with water shortages. Efforts to offset water usage and promote sustainable practices are underway, but concerns remain about the local impact of these data centers.
Source: www.theguardian.com