Research suggest data centers will emit 2.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas by 2030

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/20289663

A report from Morgan Stanley suggests the datacenter industry is on track to emit 2.5 billion tons by 2030, which is three times higher than the predictions if generative AI had not come into play.

The extra demand from GenAI will reportedly lead to a rise in emissions from 200 million tons this year to 600 million tons by 2030, thanks largely to the construction of more data centers to keep up with the demand for cloud services.

  • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
    535·
    6 days ago

    Between AI and shitcoin mining, these two “technology branches” already consume more power than all the green power added to the grid combined.

    It’s why humans will always remain de facto slaves to a few masters. Anything that could potentially be advantageous to all life on Earth? Only if the ones at the top get to profit first. No profit? Enjoy scorching to death on hell-planet for the next forty years!

    • zaphod@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      231·
      6 days ago

      Between AI and shitcoin mining, these two “technology branches” already consume more power than all the green power added to the grid combined.

      And your sources? I only did a cursory search, and according to the IEA data centers are responsible for somewhere in the range of 2-6% of electricity demand. Renewables are currently around 30% globally.

      Source: https://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-2024

      • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        6 days ago

        I feel like some people are just emotional reactionaries. They see a certain story, and in their own mind they make the story worse than it is, and treat their feelings as fact.

        I have no sources on this, or proof that this guy in particular is doing that.

        …wait, am I doing it right now???

        Hmmmmm…

    • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.eeEnglish
      52·
      6 days ago

      Between AI and shitcoin mining, these two “technology branches” already consume more power than all the green power added to the grid combined.

      I think you would be shocked if you learned what some other things in our world cost in CO2.

      The energy costs of cryptocurrency mining are easy to calculate because the system is extremely transparent. AI is a little muddier, but we know how much big tech is expanding data centers, and we know how many enterprise GPUs Nvidia sells, so we get a decent estimate.

      But these things don’t actually do as much damage as compared to other things. Imagine how much energy is used for Gaming PCs and consoles. It’s probably up there with Crypto and AI if you consider all running consoles and PCs, plus all the multiplayer infrastructure. But we don’t have numbers because this is hard to calculate.

      And then there’s stuff like personal automobiles, that completely blow these other things out-of-the-water.

    • Sanctus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      33·
      6 days ago

      I dont think much will remain after this extinction event. Do you know how long it takes niches to refill in an ecosystem? We’re going to get to a point where industry collapses and we are reset if we survive at all.

      • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
        82·
        6 days ago

        We wouldn’t even be able to restart. All the easily available resources have been delved. Three thousand years ago people could scoop pure gold from rivers by the kilos. Today, all decent deposits lie kilometers below the surface.

        But it’ll be for the best. We had our shot and blew it.

        • Tenniswaffles@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          3·
          6 days ago

          Resources like gold would be more accessible, y’know because it already been mined and made into things. If society collapses what few survivors there are could recycle shit like metals. The actual issue is fossil fuels. Getting to a point where you can use renewable power would be difficult with using fossil fuels for power first.

        • Sanctus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          6 days ago

          Maybe resources will be scarce enough that we are forced to try something other than capitalism, as we have to share to make it anywhere. Or maybe it will just make all resources needed for advanced technologies unavaible. Then we can fight over whose hut is closest to the last river.