Student protesters challenge Nvidia at climate panel

At NYC Climate Week last week, an Indian student confronted Nvidia sustainability chief Josh Parker during his speech, raising concerns about the environmental impact of AI data center construction.​

The student accused Nvidia of contributing to severe drought affecting his family in India. He alleged that the chipmaker had emitted 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.​

Two other protesters joined the confrontation. One raised concerns about Nvidia’s deals with Israel, while another said the company’s AI chips are being used in the war in Gaza. 

Police escorted all the protesters from the venue. 

The confrontation highlights escalating concerns over the resources required by AI data centers, particularly in India, where investments are projected to cross $100 billion by 2027.

Data centers in India are expected to consume 358 billion liters of water by 2030, up from about 150 billion liters in 2025, according to Mordor Intelligence. 

Data center hubs like Mumbai and Chennai already face water shortages.

Meanwhile, Nvidia says in a recent sustainability report that it has matched 100% of its global electricity use in fiscal 2026 by producing or buying clean power.