Brussels, 22 June 2021 – Signatories of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact met yesterday with the European Commission to present and assess the first policy paper setting forth the regulatory and policy recommendations needed to build a green cloud and data centre industry for Europe. The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact is a major self-regulatory initiative launched to ensure that the cloud and data centre industry in Europe supports the continent’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
The current signatories of the pact represent 90% of the industry in Europe and most of its key players. Since March 2021, eighteen more data centre operators have signed the pact (Advanced Mediomatrix, Ark Data Centres, Basefarm, Blix Solutions, BrainServe, Bulk infrastructure, Datacenter One, EcoDataCenter, EBRC, EMC HostCo, EWL, IBM, Intel, Kao Data, Noris network, ScaleUp, Switch Datacenters, T-Systems), as have three industry associations (Bitkom, Data Centre United, FCDF). These new signatories join the 36 companies and 19 associations from across Europe already committed to ensuring the design and operation of data centres across Europe meet ambitious sustainability criteria, since the Pact launched at the beginning of this year.
The policy paper, developed at the request of the European Commission, includes a comprehensive set of 19 recommendations. These cover public procurement regulations, from the procurement and development of renewable energies that can be used by the cloud and data centre industry, to supporting the development of circular water and energy management, and recycling in the ICT sector.
These recommendations for the European Union and its Member States should drive faster change towards a climate-neutral cloud and data centre industry in Europe by 2030 – an essential and structural transformation if Europe wants to realise its goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
Signatories of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact have agreed to implement measurable energy efficiency targets, purchase 100% carbon-free energy, prioritise water conservation, reuse and repair servers, and look for ways to recycle heat. The recommendations set forth in this first policy paper highlight how the regulatory and political framework for the ICT industry in Europe should be adapted to facilitate the realisation of these objectives.
Edan Dionne, VP, Environmental, Energy & Chemical Management Programs for IBM, new signatory of the Pact
“We believe that what IBM, and other members of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact commit to deliver is crucial to the systemic change Europe is embarking on to become a net-zero GHG emissions economy by 2050. Joining the Pact is yet another demonstration of IBM’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and we look forward to doing our part toward achieving our shared goal”
Alban Schmutz, Chairman of CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe):
“The digitalisation of our society and economy is key to the green transition, and a green cloud and green data centres will need to underpin this transformation. This policy paper sets out how we can get there faster, and how the European Union and its Member States can ensure that Europe is on the lead in the fight for a net-zero and digital future.”
Michael Winterson, Chairman of EUDCA (European Data Centre Association):
“The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact is pleased to welcome new operators and trade associations in this joint engagement to making the cloud and data centre industry climate-neutral by 2030. The policy paper presented today is yet another milestone that will help us deliver our goals and commitments, making Europe the global leader in the green and digital economy.”
About the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact
The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact establishes a Self Regulatory Initiative which has been developed in co-operation with the European Commission. It supports both the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050, and the European Data Strategy by making EU data centres climate neutral by 2030.
The Self Regulatory Initiative sets ambitious goals that will facilitate Europe’s essential transition to a greener economy. It commits signatories to ensuring their data centres are climate neutral by setting ambitious measurable targets for 2025 and 2030 in the following areas:
- Prove energy efficiency with measurable targets
- Purchase 100% carbon-free energy
- Prioritise water conservation
- Reuse and repair servers
- Look for ways to recycle heat
Progress towards achieving climate neutral data centres will be monitored by the European Commission twice a year.
For more details on the new Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, please visit ClimateNeutralDataCentre.net
New signatories – Cloud providers and operators of data centres
- Advanced Mediomatrix
- Ark Data Centres
- Basefarm
- Blix Solutions AS
- BrainServe AS
- Bulk Infrastructure
- Datacenter One GmbH
- EBRC
- EcoDataCenter
- EMC HostCo GmbH
- EWL energie wasser luzern
- IBM
- Intel
- Kao Data
- Noris network AG
- ScaleUpTechnologies GmbH
- Switch Datacenters
- T-Systems International GmbH
Trade associations
- Bitkom
- Data Center United
- FDCF
