- Report notes 52% of the 100 best data centers are at a high or very high risk of climate change
- 100% of the poles of Apac and the Middle East are at a high / very high risk by 2040
- Many are also located in high water stress areas
New research from Maplecroft has confirmed common suspicions – data centers are closely linked to global warming, with their effects of composition of strong energy and natural resources, while being at risk of climate change.
More than half of the 100 best central data center centrals in the world are already at a high or very high risk of the increase in temperature, cooling requests that should increase considerably, ultimately leading to higher energy and water consumption.
This occurs while demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data storage continues to grow, showing no signs of slowdown.
Data centers are their own worst climatic enemy
With 56%of the data centers interviewed at a high or very high risk today, Maplecroft predicts that two out of three (68%) could be at risk by 2040, and an amazing four (80%) by 2080.
This is more apparent in some regions than others, with 100% of Asia-Pacific and Middle East data centers which should be at high or very high risks from 2040, stressing the importance of strategic place for location.
In short and medium terms, Maplecroft believes that stops due to overheating, such as those seen through the United Kingdom and the United States in 2022, could become more frequent.
The report also explains how the increase in water requests could trigger social and political conflicts in certain communities, with more than half (52%) of data centers that should be in high and very high water stress areas by 2030.
Regions like Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Middle East, Lagos and Johannesburg in Africa, Los Angeles and San Diego in North America, and Channai and New Delhi in Asia, are all considered high-risk areas.
“It is the responsibility of operators, customers and investors to assess the increase in climate threats, as well as social and political risk factors – not only for their own resilience, but due to an increasing concentration of third -party risk management,” noted Laura Schwartz, the purchase consultant and human rights.
