UK Greens Call for Temporary Ban on New Data Centres
Green Party leader Zack Polanski urges a freeze on new data centre approvals in England, citing severe water and energy consumption amid droughts.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Green Party calls for a temporary freeze on new data centre approvals in England.
- Concerns raised over massive water and energy consumption used for cooling systems.
- The UK government argues a pause would harm national security and job investments.
- Data centres were officially classified as critical infrastructure back in 2024.
Zack Polanski has urged the UK government to implement an immediate freeze on approving new data centres across England, pointing to growing concerns over their heavy consumption of water and electricity. The Green Party leader advocates for stricter environmental regulations and demands that local communities be granted a stronger voice in determining whether these facilities are built in their neighborhoods.
While exact figures remain scarce, hundreds of data centres currently operate across the UK, with the BBC reporting approximately 477 facilities last year. Many of these installations cluster tightly around London and the south of England—regions currently facing official drought conditions. These centres require substantial amounts of water to keep their server equipment cool, though official government statistics regarding their exact water usage in the UK do not yet exist.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During a site visit to a proposed data centre location in East London, Polanski emphasized that treating these facilities as critical infrastructure during a period when three-quarters of the country suffers from drought is entirely unacceptable. Designated as critical infrastructure in 2024, data centres receive special government assistance during emergencies such as extreme weather events or cyber-attacks.
Mark Acton, executive director of the Data Centre Alliance, countered these claims by stating that data centres do not drain water supplies from local communities and actually consume less water than leisure centres or golf courses. Speaking to the media, Acton stressed that modern society relies heavily on these facilities, noting that banking networks and social media platforms fundamentally depend on continuous data centre operations.
"We need to slam the brakes on these energy guzzling, water guzzling data centres."
Zack Polanski
Research published in February by the Water Research Centre consultancy estimated that data centres in England consume approximately 1.9 billion litres of drinkable water annually, accounting for roughly 0.2% of the non-household water market. Meanwhile, the Green Party highlighted findings from the environmental charity Global Action Plan suggesting that large-scale centres could potentially consume up to 1.5 million litres of water every single day.
The intense debate over data centres highlights the mounting tension between rapid technological expansion—particularly driven by artificial intelligence—and the physical limits of local natural resources. As climate change increases pressure on water supplies, policymakers face difficult decisions in balancing national tech ambitions with environmental sustainability and community welfare.
In response, a government spokesperson warned that pausing data construction projects would send investments and jobs overseas, leaving Britain dependent on foreign computing infrastructure for sensitive defense and health data. Nevertheless, the administration noted that developers must still commit to utilizing clean energy sources, practicing responsible water management, and contributing positively to local communities.
Source: BBC Politics
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment