Elon Musk's Memphis AI supercomputer raises environmental concerns for marginalized Black community
By
Ren Brabenec
A five-star bake. Worth schmearing, sharing, saving.
Summary
The article examines how billionaire Elon Musk's development of an AI supercomputer in Memphis is causing environmental harm to a marginalized Black community. It connects this local issue to broader global class dynamics, referencing anthropologist Jason Hickel's research showing that by 2070, two billion people will face extreme heat, with 99.7% of them in the Global South—regions responsible for less than 20% of historical CO2 emissions. The piece argues that wealthy interests continue to externalize environmental costs onto poor and minority communities.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledBy the year 2070, two billion people will be residing in regions exposed to extreme, potentially unlivable heat.
Approximately 99.7% of those people will be in the Global South, a grouping of poor, formerly colonized nations primarily in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia that are responsible for less than 20% of historical carbon dioxide emissions.
Class dynamics influence the environments in which humans live, yet when this topic arises, it's almost always framed as a global issue.
You might also wanna read
NAACP Issues Guiding Principles for Data Center Accountability and Community Impact
The NAACP has issued new guiding principles calling for tech companies to be held accountable for the environmental and community impacts of
The Verge·9mo ago'How come I can't breathe?': Musk's data company draws a backlash in Memphis
Study: AI's Environmental Impact Reaches New Highs in 2025 with Significant Carbon and Water Footprints
A new study reveals that AI's environmental impact has reached alarming levels in 2025, with carbon emissions comparable to New York City an
The Verge·6mo ago