Thousands expected to join march against AI data centres in Edinburgh

Campaigners have announced a mass march against AI data centres for Edinburgh on Saturday 14^th November, with thousands of people expected to join – including community campaigners who are affected by data centre proposals, climate and anti-poverty charities.

The march is part of a Europe wide wave of protests to ‘stop dirty data centres’ with other actions in Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and many other countries earlier in the month. The Edinburgh protest will also coincide with a global day of action around the UN climate talks COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.

Over 20 proposals for huge, ‘hyperscale’ AI data centres have been submitted by big tech developers in Scotland, with grassroots community campaigns opposing them formed in response. The march will escalate pressure on the Scottish Government, who campaigners feel have not done enough to mitigate the potential harms of the data centres. 

Charities are demanding that the Scottish Government publicly consult on these plans for AI data centres before making decisions to approve them, in a ‘national conversation’ where people across Scotland can have their say. 

The march is being organised by a coalition of groups including Friends of the Earth Scotland, Action to Protect Rural Scotland and numerous local campaign groups protesting data centres, including in Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh, Larbert and more.

Protesters are encouraged to assemble at 11:30am at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh on Saturday 14 November, with the march heading down towards Holyrood at 12pm, after which there will be a rally outside the Scottish Parliament. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Head of Campaigns Caroline Rance commented,

“We will be marching to demand that the people of Scotland can have their say on these monstrous AI data centres. Big Tech billionaires have set their sights on Scotland as their next AI data centre hotspot but we still have time to stop them. 

“The huge data centres being proposed would crowd out communities, double Scotland’s electricity demand and make our energy bills more expensive, as well as destroying our natural environment and using thousands of tonnes of critical minerals. 

“We need a public conversation about the need for AI and monster data centres. The Scottish Government should be led by what the people of Scotland think about these proposals, and not the profits of big tech developers. That’s why we’re marching to demand a proper public consultation on these AI data centre plans before any decisions to build them are made.”

Sarah Finlay, a community campaigner with West Edinburgh Against AI Data Centres commented:

“We’re parents, neighbours and ordinary people who care about where we live and the future of Scotland. 

“What started as a local fight for us in West Edinburgh has become a nationwide movement against US tech billionaires. We cannot allow them to dictate the future of our countryside and our communities, they do not bring the benefits that many developers, tech firms and Donald Trump would lead us to believe. 

“We are asking the Scottish Government to stand shoulder to shoulder with us and not let this happen. Big tech, go hame tae think again!” 

Sam Gibson, a Dumfries and Galloway resident who is campaigning against the Chapelcross AI data centre said:

“We are marching to say that we don’t want AI data centres in Scotland. The Annan and wider Dumfries and Galloway communities have let it be known that we do not want a data centre here or anywhere else.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government to call in the Chapelcross data centre application, and to press the brakes on AI data centre developments across the country. The risks of these developments are numerous and serious. The health and voices of our communities matter.”

Amanda Grimm, advocacy lead for Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: 

“People are deeply worried about the frenzied dash to build super-sized AI data centres around Scotland, and they want leaders to listen to their concerns. 

“They want information, clarity and transparency, and to have a say in what happens next. 

“There must be a national conversation about AI data centres – does Scotland need them or want them, and what impacts will they have?

“Without robust guidelines, only private businesses will profit – at the expense of Scotland’s citizens, nature and climate.”

Kat Jones, Director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland said:

“Despite months of campaigning, communities battling hyperscale AI data centres where they live are still not being heard by those in power. The Scottish Government needs to include communities and civil society in their discussions. We are calling for urgent change and a seat at the table.”