The big environmental costs of rising demand for big data to power the internet
What environmental costs do data centers incur?
Data centers incur significant environmental costs, including immense energy use, water shortages, and noise pollution5. They consume large amounts of electricity, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and straining the global commitment to transitioning to sustainable energy sources. Additionally, data centers rely on water for cooling systems, which can exacerbate water scarcity in some regions.
What role does Ali Rogin play at PBS NewsHour?
Ali Rogin is a correspondent with the PBS NewsHour and PBS News Weekend. She joined the NewsHour in 2019 as a producer on the foreign affairs desk and became a correspondent for PBS News Weekend in 2022. She has reported on a wide range of issues, including health care and foreign affairs, and has received a Peabody Award and two Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Who is Sachi Kitajima Mulkey and what did she discuss?
Sachi Kitajima Mulkey is a climate news fellow at Grist, with a background in science communication and design1. She discussed the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, particularly the demand for more internet data centers and their associated costs for the communities that host them.