this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2025
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[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 12 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Every few days an article erupts about how data centers in Europe are drying up the continent. I don't question this, but as the US and China are said to lead the way in AI and data center infrastructure, how is the situation there? Is there a global comparison?

I only know of a study regarding China (which is known to have severe water problem) from 2024. It says, among others:

Already, before the explosion of AI & chatbots, national exposure across various types of water risks are high:

  • 46% of China’s national data centre racks are located in the Dry 10, which are as dry as the Middle East.
  • At least 41% of China’s national data centre racks are located in regions that are highly prone to drought while at least 28% are in areas that are highly prone to floods; at least a fifth are very prone to both.
  • 56% of China’s data centre racks are located in coastal regions vulnerable to storm surge & sea level rise.
  • Water risks can also disrupt power generation and data centres will face double whammy risks especially in hydropower reliant provinces

Here is the source (open pdf)

But this is only China. Maybe someone knows where to get comparable data from around the globe.

[–] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 16 points 5 days ago

Environmental concerns are considered communism in the USA. In China, criticism is suppressed. Hence only Europeans voice the problem.

[–] javiwhite@feddit.uk 1 points 3 days ago

Anecdotally, the story that springs to mind for me is the lack of drinkable water near one of metas datacentres..

As for compatible data for statistical analysis. Statista is my usual go-to for American metrics. Closest I could find to this subject seems to be to do with the power side of sustainability, rather than climate focused... But maybe you'll have better luck than I poking around.

Statista - Data Centre sustainability

[–] breecher@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

There are lots of stories of data centers in the US doing exactly the same. They have been posted here on lemmy as well. And more are planned which will do more of the same there.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 4 days ago

Yes, I know. But what I mean is a global study comparing the situation across all different continents.

[–] slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The american solution is to turn a blind eye.

[–] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 1 points 3 days ago

My tiny europoor brain simply cannot comprehend that level of freedom.

  • Sent from 2 of my 6 weeks of paid holidays a year that our freedom-hating socialist hellhole forces us to take whether we like it or not.