The demand for energy by datacentres and tech industry giants like Google and Meta raises concerns about environmental costs and resource extraction. Experts call for transparency and sustainable practices to address these impacts.
In 2022, a lithium mine operated in the Atacama Desert, Chile, captured by photographer Martin Bernetti for AFP/Getty Images, highlights the environmental cost of technological advancements. The infrastructure needed for storing digital data, specifically datacentres, consumes significant amounts of energy. For instance, in 2018, the energy consumed by 5 billion YouTube plays of “Despacito” was equivalent to heating 40,000 US homes for a year. Large language models such as ChatGPT are identified as particularly energy-intensive, with research indicating that around 700,000 liters of water were used to cool the machines for training ChatGPT-3 at Microsoft’s facilities.
Additionally, Google’s global datacentres and Meta’s AI Research SuperCluster emphasize the tech industry’s energy demands, potentially increasing energy consumption further. These facilities often consume resources like lithium and cobalt, typically associated with battery production. The extraction of these minerals can lead to environmental issues, such as water pollution, and is frequently linked to human rights violations.
As reliance on electricity rises, outdated electricity networks, such as the UK’s, may face increased pressure, potentially stalling developments like housing projects. Governments need to enforce transparency and accountability in environmental practices, promoting less extractive business models and integrating comprehensive strategies at all levels.
Mariana Mazzucato, a professor of economics at University College London, suggests that policies should support responsible companies in mitigating the tech industry’s significant environmental impacts while balancing technological advancement and sustainability.
