Data centre activists Max and Eda in Marseille, France, have been fighting against the expansion of data centres in their city, claiming that these centres are taking over downtown areas and competing with other projects in the city. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global electricity consumption from data centres could double by 2026, highlighting the environmental impact of these centres. Data centre activism is a growing movement, with activists in Europe and Latin America fighting against water consumption, energy usage, and other environmental concerns associated with data centres.
Sebastián Lehuedé, a researcher at Kings College London, defines data centre activism as a movement driven by activists who are concerned about the environmental impact of data centres. In Europe, the focus is on energy consumption, while in Latin America, water consumption is a major concern. While these activist movements are typically small and decentralized, there are efforts to share information and collaborate across borders. Activists like Aurora Gómez Delgado in Spain and Max and Eda in Marseille are advocating for greater scrutiny and regulation of data centres to protect the environment.
The activist movement against data centres has been gaining momentum since 2015, with campaigns against projects like Apple’s data centre in Ireland and Google’s expansion in Chile. Recent victories, such as Google rethinking its plans in Chile due to water concerns and Ireland’s refusal of Google’s new facility, have shown that activism can have an impact. However, Sebastián Lehuedé believes that governments and companies are still pushing forward with data centre projects, indicating the need for more widespread action.
In Marseille, activists are concerned about a new law that could designate data centres as projects of “major national interest,” potentially bypassing environmental assessments and public consultations. Other activists, like Jerry Mac Evilly in Ireland and Aurora Gómez Delgado in Spain, are calling for moratoriums on data centre construction until stronger regulations are in place. Lehuedé believes that involving local communities and prioritizing sustainable practices from the beginning can help address the environmental impact of data centres more effectively than moratoriums.
Overall, data centre activism is a growing movement driven by concerns about energy consumption, water usage, and other environmental impacts of data centres. While activists have achieved some victories in challenging data centre projects, there is still a need for more widespread action and collaboration to ensure that data centres are built and operated in a sustainable manner. Incorporating local perspectives and sustainable practices from the outset may be key to addressing the environmental challenges posed by the rapid expansion of data centres.
