Water as a Right or Commodity? Ethical Frameworks for Allocation Decisions

The following project was produced by a working group from the second Carnegie Ethics Fellows cohort reflecting nearly two years of convenings, collaboration, and research. Each report in this special series examines a critical issue at the intersection of ethics and international affairs. The Carnegie Ethics Fellowship aims to develop the next generation of ethical leaders across business, government, academia, and non-governmental organizations.

Access to safe, affordable, and reliable water is increasingly threatened by the combined pressures of climate change, rapid urbanization, population growth, infrastructure underinvestment, the expanding demands of water-intensive industries, and most recently—data centers.

This report provides an ethical analysis of water allocation and governance in light of data centers’ rapid expansion in the United States and globally. It offers a three-pillar framework for public decision-making and corporate water responsibility, grounded in equity, accountability, and sustainability.

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit. The views expressed within this project are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Carnegie Council or the authors’ employers.