Towards Planet Proof Computing: Law and Policy of Data Centre Sustainability in the European Union

Jessica Commins; Kristina Irion

doi:10.71265/c1nnwh92

Authors

Jessica Commins University of Amsterdam https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3381-2036
Kristina Irion University of Amsterdam https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4151-1520

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71265/c1nnwh92

Keywords:

Digitalisation , Artificial Intelligence, Data centre , Cloud, Sustainability , EU Law

Abstract

Our society’s growing reliance on digital technologies such as AI incurs an ever-growing ecological footprint. The EU regulation of the data centre sector aims to achieve climate-neutral, energy-efficient and sustainable data centres by no later than 2030. This article unpacks the EU law and policy which aims on improving energy efficiency, recycling equipment and increasing reporting and transparency obligations. In 2025 the Commission will present a report based on information reported by data centre operators and in light of the new evidence review its policy. Further regulation should aim to translate reporting requirements into binding sustainability targets to contain rebound effects of the data centre industry while strengthening the public value orientation of the industry.

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Author Biographies

Jessica Commins, University of Amsterdam

Jessica Commins is Junior Lecturer at the College of Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam
Kristina Irion, University of Amsterdam

Kristina Irion is Associate Professor at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam. She has coordinated the multi-year interdisciplinary research project on “Sustainable European digital cloud” and co-organised the international conference “Sustainable Digitalisation in Europe” in March 2024. Next to her academic engagement with the twin transition of digitalisation and sustainability, her research focus is on European data law and EU regulation of digital technologies, in particular around the tension between secrecy and transparency, the EU discourse on digital sovereignty and preserving European values as well as novel challenges for fundamental rights. In terms of societal relevance, much of the commissioned research she has led or contributed to did generate a significant impact on public policy. She frequently provides expertise to the European Commission and the Parliament, ENISA, the Council of Europe, the OECD, national governments as well as civil society organisations. At Amsterdam Law School, she is the Director of the Academic Excellence Track (AcET), the Head of Studies for the interdisciplinary Bachelor's programme Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) and a lecturer in the new Advanced Master in Technology Governance. Until 2017, she had been Associate Professor at the Department of Public Policy at Central European University then in Budapest.