A new report by Verisk Maplecroft reveals that over half of the world's top 100 data center hubs are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related risks due to rising global temperatures, with projections indicating that by 2040, 68% could face high or very high risk, and by 2080, this could rise to 80%.

The growing demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data storage is expected to significantly increase cooling needs, leading to higher energy and water consumption for data centers.

Recent overheating shutdowns in regions like the UK and US highlight the escalating climate risks that threaten data center stability.

More than half of these hubs are located in areas projected to experience high water stress by 2030, raising concerns over resource conflicts.

Increasing cooling demands will elevate water and electricity usage, potentially leading to higher costs and conflicts with local communities over resource access.

From 2030 to 2080, cooling degree days are expected to rise by approximately 83%, with about 75% of data center hubs facing prolonged cooling needs.

Despite current resilience measures like backup generators and energy efficiencies, the surge in AI and cloud services could challenge data center infrastructure amid climate pressures.

Analyst Laura Schwartz stresses the importance of understanding climate risks, as data centers are vital to global supply chains and economic stability.

By 2040, all data center hubs in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are projected to be at high or very high risk due to rising temperatures.

Extreme heatwaves pose a serious threat to data centers, often forcing shutdowns to prevent overheating, which can disrupt services and impact operations.

Experts emphasize the importance for operators, investors, and customers to assess climate and regulatory risks to ensure the resilience of data center infrastructure.