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New Research Highlights Environmental Risks of Expanding Data Centers

KVIA•Monday, March 30, 2026 at 5:34 PM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

Recent studies reveal that large data centers, crucial for powering AI, are contributing to significant temperature increases in their surroundings, creating 'heat islands.' The research indicates that these centers can raise local temperatures by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, with extreme cases reaching up to 16.4 degrees. This phenomenon affects over 340 million people globally, raising concerns as the number of data centers is expected to surge in the coming years. Experts warn that the environmental impact of these facilities could have serious implications for society and the economy, urging a reevaluation of practices to mitigate their effects.

Key Details: • Data centers can increase local temperatures by up to 16.4°F. • The study analyzed temperature data from over 6,000 data centers worldwide. • Temperature increases can affect areas up to 6.2 miles away from data centers. • The rise in data centers is expected to escalate, prompting urgent discussions on sustainability.

environment data-centers sustainability climate-change artificial-intelligence

People & Organizations

University of CambridgeAndrea MarinoniDeborah AndrewsLondon South Bank University

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