Data centers powering artificial intelligence are projected to consume roughly twice as much electricity and water by 2030 as they do today, according to a new report from United Nations researchers. Although AI is often perceived as intangible cloud-based technology, every query, image, or video relies on a massive physical infrastructure of servers, cooling systems, power grids, chips, land, and water. In 2025, global data centers used approximately 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, more than the total consumption of Saudi Arabia. AI accounted for about one-fifth of that demand. These facilities also consumed around 1.2 trillion gallons (4.5 trillion liters) of water and emitted roughly 189 million tons of carbon dioxide. By 2030, researchers forecast that annual electricity consumption by data centers will rise to 945 TWh, roughly equivalent to Japan’s current total electricity use, with AI expected to drive 40% of the total. Water consumption is projected to double to about 2.5 trillion gallons (9.3 trillion liters) per year. The physical land footprint could also expand from roughly 2,664 square miles (6,900 km²) today to more than 5,600 square miles (14,500 km²). The surge stems from the immense computational demands of training and running advanced AI models, which require powerful chips running continuously and generate substantial heat that must be managed through energy- and water-intensive cooling. The report emphasizes that AI is not inherently unsustainable. The technology offers potential benefits for optimizing energy systems, reducing waste, and improving efficiency across industries. However, the rapid pace of AI infrastructure development risks outstripping environmental planning, particularly in regions already facing resource constraints. Massive new data centers could intensify competition for electricity and water with communities, agriculture, and natural ecosystems. [Aczel, M., Chamanara, S., Matin, M., Farsi, A., Marwala, T., & Madani, K. (2026). Environmental Cost of AI’s Energy Use: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)]