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Snapshot 5:Wed, Aug 13, 2025 7:03:52 PM GMT last edited by Nick

UK Agencies Urge Residents to Delete Emails and Photos to Save Water

UK UrgesAgencies CitizensUrge Residents to Delete Emails and Photos to Save Water

UK Agencies Urge Residents to Delete Emails and Photos to Save Water
Above: Foxton Locks closed to through-boats as drought conditions impact the Grand Union Canal on Aug. 13, 2025. Image credit: Joe Giddens/PA Images/Getty Images

The Spin

The government's email deletion advice makes practical sense during this water crisis. Data centers consume massive amounts of water for cooling, and every small action adds up when millions participate. WaterDuring demanda alreadytime droppedof 20%severe climate stress, it's dystopian that government agencies in the SevernU.K. Trentmust areatell afterresidents conservationto messagingtake steps to lessen the burden on behemoth AI data facilities.

Telling people to delete emails is misguided theater that distracts from real solutions. Once data is stored, itstored generatesemails minimaland heatphotos andgenerate serversminimal oftenheat. spinGiven downthat whenthe not neededU.K. Thehas UKcommitted shouldto focusturbocharging ongrowth fixingthrough theAI, 800+this leakstype perof weekmessaging insteadis ofunhelpful symbolicand gesturesmisguided.

Metaculus Prediction

There's an 80% chance that before 2032, we will see an event precipitated by an AI malfunction that causes at least 100 deaths and/or at least $1 billion in 2021 U.S. dollars in economic damage, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0