United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on major AI companies to publicly disclose the full environmental impact of their data centers, warning that rising demand for land, water, and electricity is creating hidden global costs. Guterres emphasized that transparency is necessary to ensure the burden of these demands is not shifted onto those least able to bear it.

Call for Transparency

In a post on X on Tuesday, Guterres stated that AI data centers are "hungry for land, water & power." He called for every major AI company to disclose the environmental impact of its systems as a matter of transparency. "No more hidden costs. No more shifting the burden onto those least able to bear it. It is time to come clean," he wrote.

Industry Perspectives on Water Use

The debate over environmental impact includes differing views on resource consumption. On Monday, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk supported Nvidia Corp’s assertion that AI data centers use a small share of U.S. water. Nvidia cited estimates of about 0.2% of daily consumption and highlighted improved cooling technologies, such as liquid and dry cooling, that can significantly reduce water needs.

Regulatory and Community Concerns

Concerns extend beyond water usage to broader financial and environmental impacts on communities. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) raised issues regarding higher utility costs, pollution, and water problems affecting residents near data centers. She argued that local communities should not subsidize the energy demands of Big Tech.

In response to growing opposition, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox introduced stricter rules for AI data center development. The policy requires closer scrutiny of water use, electricity demand, and environmental effects. It also applies to the Kevin O’Leary-backed Stratos Project, aiming to protect local resources and increase public oversight.