Data centres can become net zero and sustainable – a new report finds

At Climate Week NYC, a new report has spotlighted how data centres, often criticised for their heavy environmental footprint, could become sustainable and even achieve net zero emissions.

The report, Developing Sustainable Data Centres: A Strategic Roadmap to Achieve Net Zero Carbon and Reduce Environmental Impact, was released by Ramboll, a global engineering, architecture, and sustainability consultancy. It lays out a comprehensive plan for addressing the environmental toll of the rapidly expanding data centre industry, driven largely by the boom in artificial intelligence.

“Data centre construction is booming across the globe, driving unprecedented demand for electricity and significantly contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste production, habitat destruction, and resource depletion,” said Ed Ansett, Ramboll’s Global Director of Technology and Innovation. “These challenges can be managed and mitigated if data centres are built with climate, biodiversity, and circularity impacts in mind from the very start.”

Tackling Carbon Emissions

According to the International Energy Agency, data centres consumed about 1.5 percent of global electricity in 2024, a figure expected to double by 2030. The report identifies operational carbon, emissions from energy use, as the biggest challenge, but argues that a net zero benchmark is achievable. Solutions include optimising energy efficiency, investing in renewable power, exporting excess energy, and participating in demand-response systems.

Embodied carbon, which comes from the materials used in construction, can also be reduced. Ramboll recommends low-carbon concrete and steel, sourcing materials locally, and reusing components from decommissioned buildings.

Protecting Biodiversity

Beyond carbon, the report stresses the importance of integrating biodiversity into every stage of development. Early ecological surveys to identify species and habitats, along with site designs informed by landscape architects, can minimise ecosystem damage and enhance local biodiversity around data centres.

Circularity and Water Neutrality

The report highlights circular economy principles as key to sustainability, urging data centres to adopt practices where all materials are reused, recyclable, or reusable, eliminating landfill or incineration waste.

Water use, another major concern, can be mitigated by avoiding water-based cooling, maximising efficiency in operations, and using alternative sources such as rainwater.

“There are economic benefits for data centre owners if they focus on circular practices,” Ansett noted. “The sole physical byproduct of data centre energy consumption is heat, which has historically been wasted. Data centres are in an excellent position to export what would otherwise be lost energy.”

A Call for Industry Action

The report positions itself as a first-of-its-kind blueprint for owners, developers, and operators to transform data centres into net positive assets rather than environmental burdens. It sets achievable benchmarks across carbon, biodiversity, circularity, energy, and water, urging the industry to act now.

As global demand for digital services continues to rise, Ramboll argues that the data centre sector has a unique opportunity and responsibility to lead the way toward climate-conscious infrastructure.