A sweeping new report has raised concerns about the rapid expansion of data centres worldwide, claiming the industry is contributing to a wide range of environmental, economic and public health issues, including rising electricity costs, water shortages, pollution and mental health impacts.
The report identified around 75 data centre developments across the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere, outlining negative effects ranging from excessive water consumption and industrial noise to air pollution, ecosystem destruction and strain on electricity grids.
It argues hyperscale facilities used to power artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services are increasingly reshaping communities, with critics warning the pace of development has outstripped existing environmental regulation.
The report highlighted a series of controversial data centre developments around the world, including facilities in Arizona, Virginia, Oregon and Ireland, where residents and researchers have raised concerns over water depletion, industrial noise, pollution and soaring electricity demand.
In Memphis, Tennessee, a major AI-linked facility was accused of operating large gas turbines without proper permits, with campaigners warning emissions could worsen asthma and respiratory disease in nearby predominantly Black communities.
In Arizona, hyperscale developments were linked to groundwater depletion and intensified urban heat, while residents near a Texas cryptocurrency facility reported chronic insomnia, tinnitus and vertigo from constant industrial noise.
Other examples included concerns over aquifer strain in Chile and Taiwan, thermal pollution affecting marine ecosystems in China and Finland, and fears that rising power demand from data centres was driving skyrocketing household electricity prices.
The paper also highlights growing public resistance to proposed projects, saying billions of dollars worth of developments have been delayed or cancelled amid local opposition campaigns.
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