Exactly how much of an environmental menace is AI? Here's what we know

AI data centers consume a rapidly growing share of global electricity, projected to rise from 0.5% in 2025 to 1.5% by 2030, with nearly half the consumption in the US, where data centers could reach 12% of electricity use by 2028. Their energy use, largely powered by fossil fuels, exacerbates climate change and health impacts, although the shift to renewables varies by location.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of AI Infrastructure, and 2 sources have reported it between 16 Oct 2026 and 17 Oct 2026.