Data centre growth sparks environmental concerns ahead of US midterms

BBC Technology reported that data centres, essential for internet services and AI applications like ChatGPT, have rapidly increased in number, reaching about 12,250 globally compared to 8,000 in 2021.

The US leads with 4,767 data centres, making it the most densely clustered region for these facilities, followed by Europe.

Concerns about the environmental impact and high electricity consumption of data centres have fueled public backlash worldwide.

In the US, opposition to data centre expansion has become a significant issue ahead of the midterm elections, with both Republicans and Democrats expressing resistance.

President Donald Trump has dismissed the opposition as a "sick conspiracy," even as public anger grows over the environmental effects of data centres.

The debate highlights the tension between technological growth and environmental sustainability as data centres underpin much of the digital economy and AI development.