As the AI boom drives an unprecedented rush for computing power, cities face a critical question: how do we support digital expansion, without derailing net-zero climate goals? Left unregulated, data centers can consume staggering amounts of energy and water, threaten to destabilise power grids, strain local resources, and alienate communities. But it doesn’t have to be like this: city leaders are stepping up to demand both climate-friendly solutions and accountability for big tech. In this Hot Take, we explore how local leaders are moving to prevent a digital “wild west” through international collaboration. We examine the launch of the Global Urban Data Centers Pact - a landmark commitment from 41 mayors across six continents, representing 90 million people - which aims to enforce clean energy mandates, water stewardship, and tangible community benefits for future data center development.
Featured guests:
Hannah Daly, Professor of Sustainable Energy at University College Cork
Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, United States of America
Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia
Links:
The Cloud vs the Climate? Lessons from Ireland on the data centre debate - Cities 1.5 podcast
Wyoming tightens wastewater rules after Meta datacenter contractor flushed contaminated water - The Guardian
Mayors from around the world unite in call for sustainable urban data centres - C40 website
Urban Data Centres - C40 website
Data centers and the climate landscape: An actionable resource for US mayors - C40 Knowledge Hub
Thirsty for power and water, AI-crunching data centers sprout across the West - Stanford University
Stockholm, Sweden : Heat recovery from data centres - EU Covenant of Mayors
Inside the C40 World Mayors Summit: The battle for cities, truth, and a fossil-free future at COP30 and beyond - Cities 1.5, featuring Lord Mayor Nick Reece on data centres
Seizing the opportunity to do data centres right - Climate Council
Australian government announces plan for new AI and data centre regulations - Architecture AU
If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/
Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries
Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/
Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.
Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/
Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/
