The Growing Environmental Impact of AI Data Centers
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Provided by: PBS|Published on: February 9, 2026
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video from PBS covers the impacts of AI data centers and their energy use on public health and the environment.
- Students will understand the lack of regulatory measures in place to protect the environment and how current measures, such as corporations purchasing clean energy, are not necessarily effective in mitigating harm.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Health
Authors: PBS Newshour
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video is short, while still covering a lot of subtopics within this issue.
- This is an important issue to consider as we determine when and where to use generative AI in our daily lives.
Prerequisites
- An ad may play before the video.
- Students should understand how greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can highlight the section of the video discussing the health implications of AI data centers and have students use this article to expand on the impacts of AI use on the mental health and cognitive development of students.
- In language arts classes, students can write persuasive letters to their representatives, urging them to support measures that would regulate AI data centers' emissions.
- Students with auditory processing difficulties may benefit from having the transcript in front of them as they watch the video.
- This video connects well to Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 13 Climate Action.
This news report highlights the greenhouse gas emissions associated with data centers that support modern AI technology. The local and distributed impacts of AI data centers are thoughtfully discussed in terms of stresses on the power grid, local environmental concerns, and global climate change. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
