Data centers — the entire global fleet, AI included — account for roughly 0.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Animal agriculture accounts for somewhere between 16.5% and nearly 20%.
That’s not a marginal difference. It’s about a thirty-fold gap.
To their credit, they do say this is the article
None of this is meant to minimize the environmental footprint of data centers.
I’m not a fan of substack, or whatever this style of writing is, but if the facts are accurate it’s hard not to cop to the hypocrisy.
1- Not mutually exclusive. That doesnt mean I shouldn’t still be worried about data centers.
2- Data Centers, in some senses, are causing way more noticeable and immediate impacts to people. Animal Agriculture isnt really making people’s taps go dry or running propane generators. AI is also a way bigger problem than meat in itself.
3- They addressed this in the article, but still, at least the animal agriculture is actually producing a good that people want to have: meat.
4- Ironically (or maybe not), this article seems extremely AI generated. The blog’s profile pic and pictures are also AI slop. So… Great going, dear environmentally and socially conscious vegan substack “author”.
1- Not mutually exclusive. That doesnt mean I shouldn’t still be worried about data centers.
No, it means you should be ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE less worried about data centers than animal ag. Can’t wait to see you on the front lines, brother.
2- Data Centers, in some senses, are causing way more noticeable and immediate impacts to people. Animal Agriculture isnt really making people’s taps go dry or running propane generators. AI is also a way bigger problem than meat in itself.
Are you insane? Animal ag is a huge negative factor in people’s lives, even if you care to ignore at some vulnerable individuals are directly experiencing rape, torture, slaughter, and other forms of atrocity. What about all the humans who have to commit those atrocities for minimum wage, do you suppose they are not affected? What about those who live near the slaughterhouses, who experience sharply elevated crime rates? What about those who live downstream from the ranches, who have to deal with torrents of toxic run-off? You have not researched this point.
3- They addressed this in the article, but still, at least the animal agriculture is actually producing a good that people want to have: meat.
That is a luxury product that harms everyone for the benefit of a very few. What you are saying here is that if I enjoy something, then fuck the consequences. Fuck that.
4- Ironically (or maybe not), this article seems extremely AI generated. The blog’s profile pic and pictures are also AI slop. So… Great going, dear environmentally and socially conscious vegan substack “author”.
Ironically, or maybe not, I’m going to wager that you typed that comment with your human fingers, while the flesh of vulnerable individuals still rots between your teeth. And you have the gall to complain about someone using AI. Seriously, where do you get the balls to be like that.
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I’m worried about both! I’m super worried about both
Double em dash and “it’s not x it’s y”… this post brought to you by your local data center UwU
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Who’s Al and why do they have an environmental impact?
I know Al. He farts a LOT. Just, constantly! So much methane…
