CBA Record January-February 2026

THE YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

substantial environmental risk. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s most recent Digital Economy Report , more complex systems require greater volumes, and increased variety, of minerals and metals. AI requires micro chips built from rare earth elements, which are often mined in ways that are destructive to the environment. And where manu facturing an electronic device may require 50 to 350 times its final material weight, building a 2 kg computer requires roughly 800 kg of raw materials. During construction and operation, data centers require sig nificant amounts of electricity, often derived from the burning of fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases to power their complex systems. The IEA reported that a request made through Chat GPT consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google search. The University of Massachusetts Amherst further determined that the emissions produced from training an AI model were equivalent to the emissions of 56 humans for one year, adding that energy consumption would increase as models continue to grow, take longer to train, and require more processing power. Data centers also consume substantial amounts of freshwater to cool AI computing electrical components. The World Eco nomic Forum (WEF) reported that a 1-megawatt data center uses up to 25.5 million liters of water per year just for cooling. This approximates the daily water consumption of 300,000 people. Researchers at the University of California – Riverside recently reported in Making AI Less “Thirsty” that by 2027, global AI demand will account for 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water withdrawal, which is equal to half the water consumption of the United Kingdom. Cornell researchers anticipate that by 2030, AI use will consume 731 to 1.125 million cubic meters of water per year. That is almost the same as the annual consumption of 6 to 10 million American households. Data center operations can produce hazardous electronic waste, routinely laced with mercury, lead, cadmium, or arsenic. Data center maintenance requires cooling year-round, and the freshwater used in cooling systems likewise becomes unusable wastewater, according to the WEF. As a portion of the freshwa ter evaporates during the cooling process, the remains become contaminated with dust, chemicals, and minerals. These con taminants impede the cooling process if recirculated through the system. Data centers also produce waste heat as their cooling sys tems capture and eject excess heat produced by the equipment. AI’s environmental demand likely will continue to increase as

the number of data centers surges. Some experts say we are headed for a new resource and energy crisis. Others focus on suggesting sustainable solutions to help reduce the environmental impacts of generative AI—such as capturing and recycling waste heat. Solutions to AI’s Energy-Related Problems The high level of AI’s environmental impact may feel like an over whelming contrast to the excitement surrounding its possibilities. For some, AI’s prevalence may create a sense of futility. However, as attorneys, we are empowered as researchers, scholars, litigators, and policy influencers. If the environmental impact of generative AI concerns you, consider the following: l Stay informed on the environmental impact of generative AI. Educating yourself on AI’s sustainable-use issues will be an ongoing process. l Examine the models embedded in our work and personal lives. Evaluate whether implementation is necessary, efficient, or just convenient, and consider reducing use or reliance where unnecessary. Do you really need ChatGPT to write that client email or to make two iPhones talk to each other for 30 min utes? l Engage in transparency efforts , if you have time and are ethi cally permitted. Many sources used in writing this article noted a marked lack of transparency from companies about their resource consumption in running AI models. We cannot accu rately calculate risk to our finite resources without transparency. l Contribute to policy efforts addressing AI’s growth and envi ronmental sustainability. Policy is still developing on the inter section of AI and energy. Some efforts focus on balancing energy concerns like resource availability and infrastructure with the federal goal of maintaining the country’s status as a leader in AI. AI will continue to permeate our lives, and its use comes at an environmental cost. By staying informed and engaged, we can help ensure that the benefits outweigh those costs.

Katherine Hanson is a First District Appellate Court Research Attorney and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the YLS Journal.

The Young Lawyers Section will be hosting its 2nd annual Chili Cook-Off on January 29 at 5:00 p.m. at the CBA Building. Beat the cold by sharing your best batch of chili or just stop in to taste and enjoy networking and comradery with your fellow CBA members. All members and law students are welcome to participate and attend. Toppings will be provided, and prizes are available for the fan favorites. Sign up to participate or attend at www.chicagobar.org/ylschilicookoff. If you have questions about entering your chili, reach out to YLS Director Emily Anderson at eanderson@chicagobar.org.

CBA RECORD 45