Global Warming, Climate Change and Cooling Data Centres
The Reality of Global Warming and Climate Change
As the planet continues to warm, regardless of differing opinions on the original causes of global warming and climate change, the consequences are a pressing reality. While the impact of global warming may seem minimal in our daily lives today, the situation for future generations, our children and grandchildren, could be markedly different.
Rising Sea Levels: A Major Concern
Although I do not claim to be an expert on global warming, one issue that frequently comes up is the rise in sea levels. As the climate becomes warmer and polar ice caps melt, sea levels are projected to rise, leading to widespread devastation across coastal communities and low-lying regions.
Turning a Problem into a Solution: Desalination and Data Centre Cooling
Is this too simple? Am I being naïve?
In thinking about all that extra water, I started wondering if we could actually use it for something positive. With the rapid growth of digitalisation, particularly the expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—the demand for water to cool data centres is increasing. My proposed solution is to construct numerous desalination units to convert excess seawater into freshwater, thereby boosting global water resources.
In regions where clean water is scarce, this newly available supply could be used to irrigate land that is currently unable to support vegetation. Not only would this increase the area available for food production to feed a growing global population—predicted to rise by an additional three billion people by 2050—but a larger area of vegetation would also help mitigate global warming and reduce topsoil erosion.
Economic and Social Benefits
The proposed solution offers substantial funding benefits. Developing countries could generate export income from their crops, as well as supply food and produce for domestic markets, thereby helping to alleviate hunger and stimulate local economies. Additionally, this approach would create new jobs, expand markets for developed countries to export to, and generate revenue for companies providing the advanced technologies and infrastructures required to grow new economies.
Why Desalination Over Untested Technologies?
Although there is growing interest in high-tech fixes such as Solar Radiation Management (SRM), this technology remains untested, expensive, and potentially riskier than the original problem. With sea levels now forecast to rise between 1.5 and 2 metres by the end of the century, low-lying countries face the real danger of catastrophic devastation. It makes sense to rely on proven, safe technology and begin planning without delay.
What’s Stopping Us?
So, what’s holding us back from making this happen? Let’s move forward now, take action and provide smart, workable solutions while we still have the opportunity.
When can we get started?…