Data centres emitting more CO2 than thought: study

Here is a polite and respectful summary of the provided information, adhering to the Media Outlets Policy:

– A recent study by Allianz Trade highlights the significant carbon footprint of data centres driven by the artificial intelligence boom, estimating emissions at 286 million tonnes of CO2 in 2025.
– These emission levels are 57% higher than previously estimated by the International Energy Agency.
– AI alone accounts for 15-20% of electricity consumption in data centres, and this share is projected to increase to 40% by 2030.
– Without measures to decarbonize power grids, data centre emissions could more than double by 2030, leading to substantial climate damages.
– The study suggests that without significant changes, annual climate damages would rise from $68 billion currently to $154 billion by 2030.
– Data centres also face significant water consumption challenges, projected to require 1.3 to 1.8 trillion litres of water annually by 2030.
– Emissions from data centres depend on the source of electricity; regions with decarbonized power, like Norway and Sweden, see lower CO2 emissions compared to AI-driven heavyweights like the United States and China.

For more detailed insights, it’s recommended to refer directly to Allianz Trade’s full report.