Data centres Position Statement

Data centres are currently accelerating environmental crises and inequity.
Current greenhouse gas emissions projections from data centres threaten to derail achieving Australia’s emissions target and commitment under the Paris Agreement, posing dire human health risks.
Poor planning and rushed approvals for the data centres that Artificial Intelligence (AI) relies on risk unacceptable environmental and health harms as well as wider impacts on infrastructure and communities.
Existing regulatory frameworks have not kept up with the speed of the expansion of this sector, and as yet fail to mandate resource disclosures, minimise environmental impacts or incorporate adequate community consultation.
Data centres contribute significantly to environmental degradation and subsequent harm to human health, including:

○ high greenhouse gas emissions and associated climate impacts from high energy use

○ high water demand for cooling

○ air pollution from back up diesel or gas generators

○ delaying the energy transition to renewables

○ contributing to urban heat

○ noise pollution

○ large land footprints of data centres and their associated energy infrastructure

○ waste pollution, particularly from salty water and e-waste.