California and the European Union have recently introduced new policies to monitor and limit water and energy consumption in the artificial intelligence sector. These measures are aimed at addressing the environmental threats resulting from the rapid growth of this technology.
Increased Consumption of Natural Resources
According to a new study from the United Nations University, it is predicted that by the end of this decade, artificial intelligence will consume as much water as 1.3 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and its energy consumption will be three times the total energy consumption of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, which have a combined population of 650 million. Additionally, the environmental impacts of this technology could amount to as much as 14,500 square kilometers of land.
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Professor Kaveh Madani, who led the research team for this study, stated: "This report is not against artificial intelligence, but rather a call for responsible use and anticipating its unintended effects to transform it into a sustainable and equitable technology."
New Policies in Europe and California
On Monday, the European Commission introduced new regulations requiring data centers to disclose their energy and water consumption. These regulations also include the need to report the relationship between water consumption of data centers and local water pressure. This transparency is being provided at a critical time for Europe, as the bloc plans to triple the capacity of its data centers over the next seven years.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed seven new bills that impose similar conditions on the data centers in the state. These new laws require estimates of water consumption and the provision of data related to energy efficiency and drought mitigation measures. They also set conditions for energy, water, and fuel consumption that must be adhered to in the proposals for data centers.
Newsom stated in announcing these laws: "While the previous administration moved towards deregulation, communities must contend with the consequences of increased electricity demand, grid constraints, water consumption, and pollution. With these laws, we ensure that Californians are at the forefront and that those benefiting from data centers do not exploit our resources."
These measures come as artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding and disproportionately placing environmental burdens on specific regions. The United Nations warns that the digital and environmental divide is widening, with the United States and China holding over 90 percent of artificial intelligence computing capacity, while many other countries suffer from the environmental costs of this computing without benefiting from the economic development it brings.
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