MELANIE NAKAGAWA
EOIN DOHERTY
WATER POSITIVITY
The AI factor: exponential demand meets finite resources The transition to water-smart siting is heavily accelerated by the specific thermal management requirements of AI. Training and running large language models requires ultra-dense server racks that generate immense heat. Keeping these servers at optimal temperatures traditionally relies on evaporative cooling systems which consume massive volumes of fresh water.
The resulting footprint is profound. Recent 2025 data from a study by researcher Alex de Vries at the VU Amsterdam Institute for Environmental Studies estimated that global AI systems consumed between 312.5 billion and 764.6 billion litres of water over the course of the year. Furthermore, the Brookings Institution projects that water used for data centre cooling could increase by a staggering 870 % in the coming years as more high-density facilities come online.
This creates a complex paradox for the industry. AI is highly resourceintensive, yet it is simultaneously positioned as the key to solving complex global climate challenges. Melanie Nakagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft, highlighted this duality in 2025 when discussing the company’ s environmental strategy.
“ AI is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to develop and scale innovative solutions that can move the needle on addressing climate change and related Sustainable Development Goals,” she noted on LinkedIn.
MELANIE NAKAGAWA
TITLE: CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
COMPANY: MICROSOFT INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
As Microsoft’ s sustainability chief, Melanie articulates a long-term vision where AI, despite its immediate energy demands, becomes the primary driver for achieving ambitious climate goals.
EOIN DOHERTY
TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT OF CLOUD OPERATIONS + INNOVATION IN EMEA
COMPANY: MICROSOFT INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
Eoin oversees Microsoft’ s EMEA data centre capacity, leading teams across development, design, construction and operations to deliver secure, reliable and scalable cloud infrastructure.