A new United Nations report has issued a serious warning about the rapidly expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI), stating that if current growth trends continue, AI could account for nearly 3% of global electricity consumption by 2030. This surge could place significant pressure on the world’s energy resources.
The study, released by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, highlights that AI systems rely heavily on large-scale data centers, servers, and cooling infrastructure, all of which are driving up electricity and water consumption at an accelerating pace.
FCRF’s Flagship Cyber Law Certification Returns With a New Four-Week Cohort
According to the report, global data center electricity demand could exceed 945 terawatt-hours by 2030, representing roughly 3% of total global electricity usage. This amount of energy is comparable to what could power the entire population of 1.3 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa for several years.
Experts emphasize that the environmental impact of AI does not depend solely on usage volume but also on the types of tasks being performed. Different applications such as text generation, image processing, and video modeling require varying levels of computational power and energy consumption.
The report also references the Jevons Paradox, an economic principle which suggests that improvements in efficiency often lead to increased overall consumption rather than reductions. In the context of AI, greater efficiency could actually accelerate adoption, thereby increasing total energy demand.
Another key concern raised in the report is the massive water usage required to cool data centers. This could significantly worsen water scarcity issues in several regions. Additionally, increasing land requirements for expanding digital infrastructure may place further strain on natural resources and urban planning systems.
The report concludes that AI should not be viewed solely as a digital innovation but as a highly resource-intensive system with serious environmental implications. It calls for greater transparency, improved energy efficiency, and responsible usage practices across the AI lifecycle.
Analysts expect AI infrastructure to expand rapidly in the coming years, particularly in countries such as the United States and China, where large-scale data centers are already widely established and continuing to grow.
The report also warns that developing countries may bear a disproportionate share of the indirect environmental burden, including resource extraction, electronic waste, and energy production impacts linked to global AI supply chains.
The United Nations has urged policymakers to ensure sustainable AI development by mandating energy efficiency standards, transparency measures, and lifecycle management practices to reduce future resource pressure.
It further states that without parallel improvements in global energy production and distribution systems, many countries may face increasing risks of electricity shortages and water scarcity in the future.
Experts suggest that governments and private companies must now invest more heavily in energy-efficient data centers, green technologies, and sustainable AI infrastructure to balance technological progress with environmental responsibility.
The report’s key message is clear: if the AI revolution is not managed responsibly, it could become a major driver of future resource crises. Immediate policy action and technological reforms are considered essential to prevent long-term environmental stress.
