If you are using any high-impact technology that makes use of AI where it consumes hundreds of thousands of gallons per day, carefully think how your technology footprint is contributing to the Climate Crisis. According to the Data Center Map, there are more than 500 data centers in Texas according to the data center map. There could be more that are for development because there is really no policies as to how much resources can one company consume or not. United States is built as if there is an unlimited resources so that people can keep on building, developing and implementing new technologies with the idea that we have limitless energy, and resources. The capitalism is built in a way that people will continue to consume and people will continue to buy, produce, and the cycle of consumerism and capitalism goes on. This leads to the throw away culture. The product that are being produced by companies are not made to last. Even the workers do not know how to fix anymore and would prefer buying new things that are cheaper than fix a broken appliance.
The National Weather Service has issued drought information statements for Texas is already facing drought in a Corpus Christi, Austin/San Antonio, Lubbock, El Paso/Santa Mesa, NM. The fresh water supply in these cities are in crisis. To cite an example, Corpus Christi's industries consume more then 60% of water, which is more than the residential segment. Data centers require various types of cooling system which includes water. Another resource that these data centers need is the energy. These data centers need to be connected to the grid in order to be operational. What happens in the winter when the residential needs more energy? Therefore, the data centers can accumulate more carbon footprint which the organizations and people in whole world have been mitigating and solving for decades.
There are a lot of talks on Data Centers for AI. We need to have a conversation with our legislators and make sure that there are policies around the water usage, and even moratorium especially in the cities where there is already a water crisis or drought. If the problem with the refineries, plastic industries, etc are consuming water, the data centers will also need a lot of water. The water source for the data centers can come from the same line as the consumers unless the companies recycle or find way to harvest water from some other source. The issue is that there is no transparency and accountability by these industries to report how much water they are using and wasting. The federal government has no policies or restrictions as to how much water do these industries can consume.
Are the use of these non-renewable natural resources sky's the limit? For as long as there is something that the industries can extract from the earth, we let them extract the resources. This will continue to happen until there is a true conversion of heart from capitalism and the throw-away culture in United States of America.
Texas is the # 2 state in United States of America with the highest number of data center, second to Virginia. We need to rethink how these data centers can impact our life quality due to air pollution, noise pollution, carbon footprint due to energy and space consumption, and water usage. We need to take action by talking to our legislators to put policies in our neighborhood before it become so degraded and unlivable because of data centers, refineries, fracking, nuclear weapons, that are evidently in Texas? We have a moral responsibility to take actions, to not allow the people in power to destroy our planet and not to take away the chance for the young and future generations to have a livable planet.
Our world has limits and we are called to be one with creation. With this year of Jubilee Year of Saint Francis, we are calling all people to reflect on Laudato Si' and the reality of our world. What are we called to do in this time when there is so much destruction brought by war, greed, violence, individualism added to the throw-away culture and capitalism that speed up the carbonization of our planet?
Article 106 of Laudato Si':
Men and women have constantly intervened in nature, but for a long time this meant being in tune with and respecting the possibilities offered by the things themselves. It was a matter of receiving what nature itself allowed, as if from its own hand. Now, by contrast, we are the ones to lay our hands on things, attempting to extract everything possible from them while frequently ignoring or forgetting the reality in front of us. Human beings and material objects no longer extend a friendly hand to one another; the relationship has become confrontational. This has made it easy to accept the idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology. It is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit. It is the false notion that “an infinite quantity of energy and resources are available, that it is possible to renew them quickly, and that the negative effects of the exploitation of the natural order can be easily absorbed”
The economic system in United States requires the businesses to produce more, and for consumers to buy more and extract more raw materials every change in season or every financial year. The industries measure their success by revenue. The WallStreet companies measure their strengths by dollar value. This world economic model is causing the world's ecological crisis.
This economic model caused the crisis that we are in now. We cannot be living the same lifestyle with the rate of taking more resources than ever before from the planet that continue to degrade and diminish its resource. The planet is failing to replenish its resources while the war and the climate crisis also speed up the extinction that is happening before our eyes. This is an invitation to join peaceful and sustainable organizations like Laudato Si' Movement that you can collaborate with and make socio-ecologically sustainable solutions possible for living beings of our earth. It takes the whole human race to work on these steps towards a carbon net-zero 2050 which is in our generations and make a livable future possible.
Call to Action:
Educate yourself on Pope Leo’s First Encyclical on the use of technology, AI and socio-ecological Justice: Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
Pray: Catholic Climate Covenant will host a prayer service outside EPA and deliver the letters on Friday July 24. Join us for the prayer service or pray from where you are.
Have a conversation with your legislators on putting policies and moratorium on the data centers appropriate to the needs of the people and the habitat in the areas impacted by Data Centers.
Call EPA to Protect Our Common Home::
https://mailchi.mp/catholicclimatecovenant.org/advocacy-landing-page
Ponder and discern your use of AI. Is it necessary or are there ecologically just alternatives? How is your use of technology impact the vulnerable such as Creation, neighbor, the poor and the indigenous.
Read More:
5 Ways Data Centers Endangered Texas and the Whole Word
