Big Tech Data Center Buildouts Have Led to $5.4 Billion in Public Health Costs
The construction of big tech data centers has resulted in significant public health costs due to air pollution from powering these facilities, with cancers and asthma being among the illnesses linked to this pollution. According to a new analysis, these costs amount to $5.4 billion annually, accounting for the specific location where the data is processed. The study found that lower-income households are disproportionately affected by the health impacts of data center air pollution.
- The widespread adoption of cloud computing and AI-powered technologies by tech giants may inadvertently perpetuate a culture of "carbon colonialism," where the environmental costs of their operations are externalized to other regions or communities.
- As data centers continue to expand, what role will governments play in regulating the industry's environmental impact, particularly when it comes to ensuring that these facilities are designed and operated with public health considerations at the forefront?