MSPs urged to halt AI data centres

Environmental campaigners are urging all MSPs to vote for a nationwide moratorium on ‘monster’ AI data centres.

Scottish Green MSPs will force a vote on the controversial developments in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 16th September.  Campaigners say this is the first time MSPs will have a chance to show they are “on the side of their communities” on this issue.

There are over 24 data centres currently proposed in Scotland. The massive scale of these projects means that they require huge amounts of energy, land and materials to build and run. Local people in communities across Scotland have been protesting these developments, in particular the impact of noise, water and air pollution.

There have been over 500 bans or restrictions on data centre developments in the USA because of impacts of noise on local communities and protests over water and energy consumption.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Caroline Rance said:

“With both global and local concerns about AI data centres mounting rapidly, it is high time our MSPs support a moratorium on this rash of damaging developments across Scotland.

“The Scottish Government must show if it is on the side of communities or big tech firms. People are rightly very worried about how these monster projects could destroy their local environment, increase climate pollution and lock Scotland into supply chains for harmful materials.

“The lack of a national plan or clear guidance for Councils on data centres means that developers are riding roughshod over communities and nature. Ministers must not reject another opportunity to put a moratorium in place and take control of this situation before it’s too late.

“There is huge local pushback almost everywhere a data centre has been proposed. Politicians must listen to those who elected them, rather than falling for the self-serving claims of big tech companies.

“Once a moratorium is in place, the Scottish Government should order an independent assessment of data centre plans and impacts in Scotland, including how they will impact people and nature in Scotland and how they will affect our existing climate and environmental commitments.”