INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Pact commits European cloud and data centre industry to sustainability action
One year after the adoption of the European Green Deal , leading cloud infrastructure providers and data centre operators have created the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact . Twenty-five companies and 17 associations have agreed to a Self Regulatory Initiative to make data centres in Europe climate neutral by 2030 . Companies joining the Pact represent the most significant industry players in cloud infrastructure and data centres in Europe . This is a historic and unprecedented commitment by an industry to proactively lead the transition to a climate neutral economy .
Stefano Cecconi , Vice President of CISPE and CEO of Aruba S . p . A ., said : “ Both the energy efficiency and local self-produced energy by using renewables are in line with Aruba ' s view towards a sustainable future . In fact , through our very own photovoltaic solar panel systems and owned hydroelectric power plants , we ' re already producing more green energy than what we actually need across our data centres . This enables a negative carbon footprint across all of our operations and allows us to support our activities and our customers ' ones with zero impact on the environment . By choosing climate neutral data centres , everyone can actively contribute to the future of our planet ."
Frans Timmermans , European Commission Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal , said : “ Citizens across Europe use ever more technology to go about their daily lives and want this technology to also help secure a sustainable future for people and the planet .
“ Today ’ s pledge from important parts of the data industry constitutes a promise to society and offers a welcome first step towards achieving our common ambitions for a smart and sustainable future .”
Alban Schmutz , Chairman of CISPE ( Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe ), said : “ With cloud infrastructure the backbone of the European Union ’ s digital economy , our industry is committed to the idea that we must all play a central role in addressing climate change .
“ This commitment underpins a roadmap for Europe ’ s cloud infrastructure industry to offer climate neutral services to customers by 2030 .”
Apostolos Kakkos , Chairman of EUDCA ( European Data Centre Association ), said : “ Data centres are the supporting pillars of the fourth industrial revolution and , as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic , are essential infrastructure of not only the digital economy but of the entire global economy . It is our duty to commit to a self-regulatory initiative that will help to ensure the operational availability , sustainability and the future of our industry .”
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 .
Progress towards achieving climate neutral data centres will be monitored by the European Commission twice a year . p
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