Green Party Urges Temporary Moratorium on New UK Data Centres Amid Resource Strain

The Green Party has proposed a temporary ban on the development of new data centres across the UK. Zack Polanski, the party's Deputy Leader, articulated this position, citing the escalating demands these facilities place on national water and energy supplies, particularly those powering sophisticated artificial intelligence applications.

Polanski's proposal highlights a concern that the rapid expansion of data infrastructure, often fuelled by AI advancements, is proceeding without adequate consideration for long-term resource sustainability. Data centres are recognised as significant consumers of both electricity for computing and cooling, and water for evaporative cooling systems, a footprint that is projected to grow substantially.

The call for a moratorium reflects a broader debate on regulating the technology sector's environmental impact. Proponents of the ban argue that it would provide a crucial pause for policymakers to implement more stringent planning regulations and explore sustainable technologies, ensuring that the development of digital infrastructure aligns with the UK's environmental commitments rather than undermining them.