The rapid expansion of artificial-intelligence infrastructure is raising environmental concerns in Australia as new data centres require large amounts of electricity and water for cooling systems. Technology companies building AI computing facilities are facing questions about how these operations will affect energy consumption and environmental sustainability. Some analysts warn that the growth of AI workloads could significantly increase electricity demand, potentially complicating national climate targets. Policymakers are now examining how to balance the economic benefits of AI development with the environmental costs associated with large-scale computing infrastructure.
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/13/ai-datacentres-environmental-impacts
