Appendix A: Nature-related impacts and dependencies This Appendix provides additional details and data points to support Chapter 2: Tech’s nature impacts and dependencies. It is organized by tech sub-sector and associated impact/dependency categories in the main report. Semiconductors Water use Semiconductor plants – how much water is used? FIGURE A1 Globally, the semiconductor industry consumes: Average facility manufacturing 40,000 wafers per month can use:>1 billion m3 of water/year15+ million EU residents 18,000-38,000 m3 of water/dayup to 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools Sources: see endnote.148 Semiconductor manufacturing is notoriously water-dependent. Water is used extensively to clean and rinse wafers at each step, as well as to operate equipment to handle waste and cooling. The requirement for ultrapure water (UPW) further increases water use. UPW has been treated to remove all impurities and it typically requires 1,400 to 1,600 litres of potable water to make 1,000 litres of UPW.149 Given high rates of water use, wastewater recycling is a major area of focus. In a survey of 19 manufacturers, 45% of water use was from recycled water. However, recycling rates varied widely among these manufacturers, from ~13% to 69%,150 indicating there is continued opportunity for improvement across the sector. Even with wastewater recycling rates improving, plants continue to face issues with local governments and communities as they seek to balance growth and water sustainability. Taiwan, home to 60% of global semiconductor manufacturing, faced its worst drought in half a century in 2021. Many plants were required to reduce water consumption up to 15%, resulting in companies buying truckloads of water to maintain operations. Droughts are expected to continue creating challenges for manufacturers, potentially cutting 2030 output projections by 10%.151 Beyond drought, semiconductor manufacturers face water-related challenges based on regulations and public pushback. In Arizona, home to at least eight semiconductor facilities,152 plans for a TSMC plant were temporarily delayed in 2023 due to regulation requiring an assured water supply of at least 100 years.153 Plans ultimately moved forward because TSMC planned to reuse 74% of its water. In Grenoble, France, in 2023, protesters opposed the extension of local semiconductor manufacturing capacity, chanting “water, not chips!”154 Nature Positive: Role of the Technology Sector 56

Nature Positive Role of the Technology Sector 2025