ENGLISH ​

LANGUAGE​
PROJECT

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Name Naman Katiyar

Class XII-B

Roll No. 26
Environmental Effects
of the AI Boom
 INDEX

Topic Page No.

Introduction 1

Energy Consumption 2

Carbon Footprint 3

Water Usage 4

E-Waste and Resource Extraction 5

Impact on Local Environment 6

The Paradox of AI and the Environment 7

Future Outlook 8

Conclusion 9
Introduction:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the fastest-growing technologies in
the world today. From chatbots to self-driving cars, from medical
research to online shopping recommendations, AI is becoming a part
of everyday life. But behind the excitement of AI lies a hidden
story—the environmental cost.

AI systems need powerful computers and massive amounts of data. To

handle this, huge data centers are built all over the world. These data
centers are like giant factories of information, storing and processing
endless amounts of data. However, just like factories, they consume
energy, use water, and create electronic waste.

In this essay, I want to explore the environmental effects of the AI

boom and data centers. This is important because technology should
not only be advanced but also sustainable.

1
Energy Consumption:
The biggest environmental impact of AI comes from its energy use. AI
models, especially large ones, require enormous computing power to
train and run.

●​ Training AI models: Training advanced AI models can take weeks

or even months, using thousands of high-performance
computers. This process consumes as much electricity as a small
town.​

●​ Data centers: These centers need to run 24/7 without stopping,

which means non-stop electricity consumption. According to
reports, data centers globally consume about 1-2% of the world’s
electricity, and this number is increasing every year.​

When this electricity comes from fossil fuels like coal and oil, it directly
increases carbon emissions, contributing to climate change.

2
Carbon Footprint:
Closely linked to energy use is the carbon footprint. The more energy
AI and data centers use, the more greenhouse gases are released into
the atmosphere, unless renewable energy is used.

For example, one study found that training a single large AI language
model can emit as much carbon as five cars over their entire lifetime.
With hundreds of such models being trained, the numbers add up
quickly.

This shows that while AI is “virtual” and invisible on our screens, it

leaves a very real carbon footprint on the planet.

3
Water Usage:
Many people do not realize that data centers also use a lot of water.
The powerful computers inside these centers generate heat, and
cooling systems are needed to prevent overheating.

One common cooling method uses water. Millions of liters of water

can be consumed by a single data center in a year. In places where
water is already scarce, this can put extra pressure on local
communities and ecosystems.

For example, some data centers in the United States and Europe have
faced criticism for using large amounts of freshwater while nearby
towns suffer from drought.

4
E-Waste and Resource
Extraction:
Another environmental effect of AI and data centers is electronic
waste (e-waste). To build AI systems, we need advanced hardware like
servers, GPUs (graphics processing units), and storage devices. These
machines do not last forever and need to be replaced regularly.

●​ E-waste: Old servers and computer parts become e-waste, which

is often dumped in landfills or exported to poorer countries. This
creates pollution and health hazards.​

●​ Resource extraction: To make these machines, metals like

lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are mined. Mining often
damages ecosystems, pollutes rivers, and harms local
communities.​

Thus, the AI boom increases the demand for mining and adds to the
global e-waste problem.

5
Impact on Local
Environments:
The construction of large data centers also affects local environments.
To build them, large areas of land are cleared. Sometimes farmland or
forests are replaced by these facilities. The centers also require strong
electricity connections, which means new power plants and
transmission lines may be built nearby.

In some cases, this can harm biodiversity, reduce green cover, and
increase pollution in surrounding areas. Local communities often
protest because data centers can increase electricity costs, reduce
water availability, and bring noise pollution.

6
The Paradox of AI and
the Environment:
One interesting thing about AI is that it can both harm and help the
environment. On one hand, it consumes energy, water, and resources.
On the other hand, AI can be used to fight climate change by
improving energy efficiency, predicting extreme weather, and
supporting renewable energy systems.

For example:

●​ AI can help design better solar panels and wind turbines.

●​ It can make transport systems more efficient, reducing fuel use.
●​ It can monitor deforestation and illegal fishing through satellite
data.

This paradox shows that the environmental effect of AI depends on

how we choose to use it. If managed responsibly, AI could become a
tool for sustainability rather than destruction.

7
Future Outlook:
The future of AI is bright, but it must be balanced with environmental
care. The demand for data centers will continue to grow as AI becomes
more common in education, healthcare, business, and daily life.

The challenge is to make sure this growth does not destroy the planet.
If AI can be combined with renewable energy, recycling systems, and
responsible innovation, then it can truly benefit humanity without
harming nature.

Otherwise, the AI boom might become another example of

technology harming the environment instead of saving it.

8
Conclusion:
To conclude, the AI boom and data centers have both positive and
negative effects on the environment. On the negative side, they
consume massive amounts of energy, increase carbon emissions, use
large quantities of water, create e-waste, and affect local ecosystems.
On the positive side, AI has the potential to help solve environmental
problems if used wisely.

As students and future leaders, we should appreciate the importance

of balancing technology with sustainability. AI should not only make
life easier but also protect the Earth for future generations. The true
success of AI will be measured not just by how smart machines
become, but by how responsibly we use them.