Widespread devastation following Nepal flood triggers Himalayan debate on AI use

New Delhi:The devastating floods that struck Nepal last month and left a trail of destruction across the Himalayan nation have reignited a broader debate over climate change, ecological vulnerability, and the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river floods, reportedly triggered by a glacial collapse, left more than 1,000 people dead and nearly 5,000 missing in Nepal, highlighting the fragility of Himalayan ecosystems under mounting climate stress.

In the aftermath, discussions have expanded beyond climate change to examine the growing energy and water demands of AI infrastructure, particularly large-scale data centres. While some social media posts circulated claims linking glacier instability to alleged underground server farms in the Himalayas, experts have largely dismissed such assertions due to a lack of evidence.

Reports have noted China’s significant investments in AI, cloud computing and data-centre infrastructure, alongside major hydropower projects in the Himalayan region. While environmentalists have long raised concerns about the ecological impact of large dams and hydropower projects, the direct role of AI infrastructure in Himalayan degradation remains a subject of debate.

According to a Kathmandu Post report, development expert Ashutosh Tiwari pointed out that AI played little role in real-time rescue operations during the disaster, arguing that discussions around the technology in Nepal often remain confined to policy and academic forums rather than practical applications.

Addressing online claims that Chinese server farms may have contributed to glacier melt, journalist and sustainability strategist Karin Kloosterman wrote this week that “there is currently no evidence establishing that connection”, while noting that obtaining reliable data from Beijing would be difficult.

Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms, according to her biography. She, however, stressed that data centres consume vast amounts of electricity and, when powered by fossil fuels, contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions that accelerate global warming.

“Those emissions join the accumulated global emissions driving climate change. The resulting warming does not respect borders,” Kloosterman noted.

Several reports have highlighted a dual reality surrounding AI. While AI-powered monitoring systems could help prevent disasters and save lives, the rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centres could indirectly exacerbate the climate vulnerabilities that contribute to extreme events.

Experts warn that the enormous electricity and water requirements of AI infrastructure may place additional pressure on environmentally sensitive regions. In countries such as Nepal, where hydropower projects already affect fragile river systems, growing resource demands could further strain ecological balances.

Reports said a Nepal Minister was seeking compensation from China, India, and the United States, arguing that greenhouse-gas emissions linked to climate change had contributed to the disaster.

The Kathmandu Post also reported that Nepali diplomacy expert Mahesh Kushwaha shared an AI-generated infographic illustrating a cycle in which rising global demand for AI drives energy consumption, increases carbon emissions, accelerates glacier melt and destabilises mountain terrain, ultimately raising the risk of disasters such as the Bhotekoshi floods.

At the same time, proponents argue that AI can become a key tool in disaster prevention. Satellite imagery can be used to train AI models to detect glacial movement and identify risky patterns, potentially enabling earlier warnings for vulnerable communities, according to Analytics India Magazine.

Experts further contend that AI-driven early warning systems integrating sensors, satellites and predictive algorithms could help bridge the critical gap between the formation and collapse of glacial dams, giving downstream populations precious time to evacuate.

As the Himalayas continue to warm at a faster-than-average rate, the debate over AI’s role in the region is becoming increasingly complex. While the technology offers unprecedented opportunities for climate monitoring and disaster mitigation, its environmental costs are prompting difficult questions about the balance between technological advancement and ecological sustainability.

IANS