Data Centers Harmful to the Climate: Switzerland Performs Well
The global expansion of data centers amid the AI boom is leading to significantly higher emissions than previously assumed. A study shows rising energy and water consumption. By comparison, Switzerland benefits from a low-carbon electricity mix.
Digitalization is not «green» per se: Emissions from digital infrastructure have been systematically underestimated to date and could more than double by 2030 if no countermeasures are taken, warns a study by Alliance Trade.
Data centers are already among the world’s most dynamic electricity consumers. «They are evolving from a marginal factor into a structural driver of electricity demand,» says Patrick Hoffmann, senior climate economist at Allianz. AI applications already account for between 15 and 20 percent of energy demand; by 2030, their share could rise to around 40 percent. At the same time, global investment is projected to reach around $580 billion by 2025—with capacity continuing to grow rapidly.
Switzerland in an International Comparison
The carbon footprint depends largely on the location. While countries such as India and Indonesia generate more than 600 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour, the figures in Scandinavia are below 30 grams. With around 40 grams, Switzerland ranks favorably in international comparisons. This is due in particular to the high share of renewable energy—especially hydropower—as well as stable energy and infrastructure policies.
Despite its relatively small size, Switzerland is gaining importance as a business location. International tech companies are increasingly using the country as a European hub—a trend driven by political stability, strict data protection regulations, and its proximity to key markets. However, this growing sector is not without environmental consequences.
Emissions Higher Than Expected
The study estimates global emissions from data centers in 2025 at 286 million metric tons of CO2—about 57 percent more than previously assumed. More than 70 percent of these emissions result from electricity consumption, while hardware and infrastructure account for about a quarter. AI itself already contributes up to 60 million metric tons to these emissions today.
Without additional decarbonization efforts, emissions could rise to as much as 643 million metric tons by 2030. While an ambitious scenario could nearly halve this figure, indirect emissions from construction and manufacturing would then become a more significant factor.
In addition to CO2, another factor is coming into focus: water consumption. Data centers worldwide are projected to consume approximately 814 billion liters of water in 2025, and this figure could more than double by 2030. Here, too, European locations perform comparatively well, while the U.S. and China have the highest absolute consumption levels.
The economic consequences are significant. Data centers are already causing climate damage amounting to approximately $68 billion annually—a figure that could rise to over $150 billion by 2030. AI currently accounts for about $13 billion of that total.
Digitalization is not climate-neutral
In the long term, AI itself could become part of the solution. Efficiency gains in energy, industry, and infrastructure offer significant potential for reducing emissions—provided that expansion is based on clean energy. «The key to ‚Green AI‘ lies in the electricity mix,» Hoffmann emphasizes. Europe has structural advantages in this area, but without consistent expansion of renewable energy, this lead is at risk of shrinking.
This trend shows that digitalization is not climate-neutral in and of itself. Whether AI becomes a driver or part of the solution depends largely on political decisions and the energy supply of the future.
This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/klimaschaedliche-rechenzentren-schweiz-schneidet-positiv-ab/
