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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Hannah Emma Shedden

AI data centres put pressure on communities' water supplies, UN team warns

United Nations
UN report says communities must be at the heart of data centre discussions as a Fife community rallies against a site near the village of Auchtertool. (Image: Getty Images)

A UN report on the environmental impact of AI says local communities must be included in discussions about data centres — as Scottish communities rally to object to plans near them.

The 56-page report titled "Environmental Cost of AI's Energy Use", put together by four leading scientists, looked at the impact of the artificial technology on our surroundings, noting energy and water use, as well as ethical concerns.

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