As demand for AI workloads surges, so too does the environmental cost of the infrastructure that is powering it. Data centres are already major consumers of electricity and water – and with the next generation of AI deployments, these impacts are set to rise sharply. But smarter design and regulation can help.
In this session, Dr. Paolo Bertoldi from the European Commission will present the latest EU-wide data on energy use, CO₂ emissions, and water consumption across the data centres – with a focus on emerging infrastructure. You’ll hear practical strategies for mitigating environmental impact, including system-level optimisations, regulatory frameworks, and decarbonisation levers already in use across Europe. Attendees will come away with clear benchmarks and actionable insight to support their sustainability and compliance goals.