By 2030, how much will data centers contribute to fossil fuel emissions? Scientists mapped it : Short Wave
✍️ Emily Kwong Regina G. Barber Scott Detrow Rachel Carlson Daniel Ofman, Emily Kwong, Regina G. Barber, Scott Detrow, Rachel Carlson, Daniel Ofman📅 November 14, 2025 12:00 AM🕐 Scraped: November 14, 2025
Summary: It’s another news roundup! This time, we cover how, using data analytics – and ironically, some AI – a team at Cornell University has mapped the environmental impact of AI by state. They determined that, by 2030, the rate of AI growth in the U.S. would put an additional 24 to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The team further calculated that by 2030, AI could use as much water as 6 to 10 millions Americans do every year. All of this, they conclude, would put the tech industry’s climate goals out of reach. This episode, we also get into the potential for life on one of Saturn’s moons and a new discovery about why chameleons’ eyes are so special. Interested in reporting on the environmental impact of AI? Email us your question at [email protected] to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
By 2030, how much will data centers contribute to fossil fuel emissions? Scientists mapped it
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Using data analytics – and, ironically, some artificial intelligence – a team at Cornell University has mapped the environmental impact of AI by state.
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