- Report notes 52% of the 100 best data centers centers have a high or very high risk of climate change
- 100% of the APAC and the Middle East centers would be with a high/very high risk by 2040
- Many are also found in areas of high water stress
New Maplecroft research has confirmed the common suspicion: data centers are closely linked to global warming, with their high energy and the effects of the demand for natural resources, while at risk of climate change.
More than half of the 100 data centers in the world already have a high or very high risk due to the increase in temperature, and cooling demands will increase significantly, which finally leads to greater use of energy and water.
This occurs when the demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data storage continues to grow, without showing signs of deceleration.
Data centers are your worst climate enemy
With 56%of the data centers surveyed with high or very high risk today, Maplecroft predicts that two out of three (68%) could be at risk by 2040, and an amazing four in five (80%) in 2080.
This is more evident in some regions than in others, with 100% of the Centers of Data Centers of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East that are expected to have a high or very high risk as soon as 2040, highlighting the importance of strategic planning when it comes to location.
In short and medium terms, Maplecroft believes that closures because overheating, such as those seen throughout the United Kingdom and the United States, in 2022, could become more frequent.
The report also explains how the increase in water demands could generate social and political conflicts in certain communities, with more than half (52%) of the data centers that are expected to be in high and very high water stress areas for 2030.
Regions such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Middle East, Lagos and Johannesburg in Africa, Los Angeles and San Diego in North America, and Chanai and New Delhi in Asia, are considered high -risk areas.
“The responsibility is in operators, clients and investors equally to evaluate the growing climatic threats, together with social and political risk factors, not only because of their own resilience, but due to a growing regulatory approach in third -party risk management,” said sustainable acquisitions and Human Rights Capucine consultants and can risk insight Asia Analyst Laura Schwartz.