Data centres could ‘torpedo’ climate target, campaigners warn

Hyperscale data centres could “torpedo” Scotland’s ambition to reach net zero by 2045, climate campaigners have warned.

Friends of the Earth Scotland say approval of the 23 proposals for AI data centres would be a “dereliction of duty” after analysis estimated they would use half of the country’s carbon budget.

The intervention comes amid a political row on the future of the sites, causing ministers to step in over the summer to tighten the planning process.

But the government is currently resisting Scottish Greens' calls for a moratorium until a national strategy is in place for handing planning applications.

AI data centres require significant amounts of energy and water. There has also been local opposition where construction has been proposed due to concerns about environmental impacts.

Supporters of the centres say they would bring investment and jobs to the country. 

Friends of the Earth say that the 23 data centres currently proposed would generate 208 million tonnes of greenhouse gases – just over half of the 406 million tonnes Scotland aims to emit between 2026 and 2045.

The group argue that giving the centres the greenlight would mean having to cut pollution in other sectors much quicker – such as in farming.

Senior campaigner Kim Pratt said: “We can't allow our remaining climate budget to be wasted on AI slop instead of vital services, food production and things people genuinely need.

“It would be a reckless dereliction of duty for the Scottish Government to continue allowing tech giants to push these enormous, polluting AI data centres without understanding the impacts they will have on our environment and our communities.”

Planning authorities are required to notify ministers of applications for new data centres exceeding 50MW power capacity within seven days.

Current data centre capacity in around 50MW in total, with the largest in Airdrie – which has a capacity for 12MW. 

The 23 proposals are all bigger, with one in Dumfries in Galloway thought to be one of the largest in the world at 1,000MW.

The Scottish Parliament’s Climate Action Committee recently launched in inquiry into the issue.