AI systems released as much carbon dioxide in 2025 as New York City emits in a year, according to new research. The study also found AI water use now exceeds global bottled water demand. These figures mark the first attempt to measure AI’s specific environmental impact separate from general data centers.
Carbon and Water Footprint Reaches New Highs
According to The Guardian, researcher Alex de Vries-Gao calculated that AI’s 2025 carbon footprint could reach 80 million tonnes. Water use may hit 765 billion liters. The emissions equal more than 8% of global aviation output.
De Vries-Gao founded Digiconomist, a company that researches digital trends. He compiled the figures from technology companies‘ own reports. The study appeared Wednesday in the academic journal Patterns.
The water impact estimate represents the first time AI’s water use has been measured separately. The figure is more than a third higher than previous estimates of all data center water use. AI water consumption alone surpasses the entirety of global bottled water demand.
Tech Companies Face Questions About Environmental Costs
De Vries-Gao said society pays these costs while tech companies reap benefits. He called for stricter transparency requirements. The use of chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini soared in 2025.
Data Center Construction Creates Growing Concerns
The International Energy Agency said earlier this year that AI-focused data centers draw as much electricity as aluminum smelters. Data center electricity use is expected to more than double by 2030.
The largest AI data centers being built today will each consume as much electricity as 2 million households. The US accounts for 45% of data center electricity use. China follows with 25% and Europe with 15%.
Donald Campbell directs advocacy at Foxglove, a UK non-profit. He said the public foots the environmental bill for some of the richest companies on Earth. The data center construction trend driven by generative AI is only starting.
One UK data center planned for Blyth will emit more than 180,000 tonnes of CO2 yearly at full operation. That equals the amount produced by more than 24,000 homes. In India, concerns grow about diesel generator farms for backup power. The consultancy KPMG called this a massive carbon liability.
Google reported a 12% reduction in energy emissions from its data centers in 2024. But the company said achieving its climate goals is now more complex and challenging.
