The environmental price of the AI boom
During a recent trip to Baguio, a poster inside a convenience store caught my attention. Its bubbly lettering, pastel colors and cartoon-like illustrations gave it the polished, almost too-perfect look of an AI-generated image.
A poster in a Baguio convenience store highlighted the juxtaposition of AI-generated imagery and the physical resources required to sustain such technology. The poster read "Hydration is self-care," alongside another that emphasized the importance of water. The irony was evident as rows of bottled water lined shelves.
AI's environmental impact is multifaceted. Data centers that power AI consume vast amounts of electricity, accounting for about 1.5% of global electricity use in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This electricity generation resulted in around 180 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
These emissions are not exclusive to AI but are part of broader data center operations. Demand for such centers is projected to rise to 945 terawatt-hours by 2030, driven partly by AI. To mitigate this, advancements in energy efficiency and the use of cleaner power sources are essential.
Data centers also require substantial amounts of water for cooling servers, a hidden cost of AI integration. The IEA estimates that a 100-megawatt data center in the U.S. can consume approximately two million liters of water daily. In Louisiana, Meta's planned Hyperion data center could consume over 23 million gallons of water per day, surpassing the daily water use of a town of 17,000 people.
The environmental footprint of AI extends beyond energy and water use. Manufacturing AI chips, servers, and replacing equipment contribute to electronic waste. Mining for raw materials and disposing of hardware also entail environmental costs.
The US-led initiative, Pax Silica, aims to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors and technologies supporting AI. However, projects like its proposed industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac, raise questions about potential environmental impacts, including electricity, water, land use, and effects on local livelihoods. As of August 2026, a project-specific environmental impact assessment had not been completed due to unclear project details.
El Niño, a natural climate pattern, exacerbates concerns about water scarcity, especially as the Philippines braces for a potentially strong event through 2027. Balancing AI's benefits with its environmental footprint is crucial. Companies can adopt more efficient systems, use AI judiciously, and be transparent about synthetic imagery.
Data center developers should disclose energy and water usage, consider local resource constraints, and invest in sustainable practices. Regulatory oversight is necessary to ensure that environmental considerations keep pace with technological advancements.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
