Oral evidenceSelect & Joint CommitteesWednesday, 10 June 202614:00

Environmental Audit Committee: Risks and opportunities to the sustainability of data centres in the UK

Committee hears from witnesses

The Environmental Audit Committee is taking oral evidence on the sustainability risks and opportunities created by data centres in the UK. Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity and water, raising questions about their environmental footprint as demand surges with artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The inquiry will examine how to balance the economic benefits and technological necessity of data centres against their climate and resource impacts.

Data centres are critical national infrastructure for the digital economy, but their rapid expansion poses risks to net-zero targets and water security. The findings will influence government policy on planning, energy infrastructure, and environmental regulation as the sector grows.

Environment Energy & Net Zero Technology & Digital

Committee mentioned:Environmental Audit Committee