Most data centers are still refusing to say how much water and electricity they use
Many data centers won't disclose their energy and water consumption publicly, and the EU makes accessing this data difficult.
According to a new investigation, the vast majority of European data centers are refusing to disclose how much water and electricity they use. Of the 186 large data centers operating in the Netherlands, only 44 and 47 respectively publicly revealed their energy and water consumption figures. The EU, however, hides raw data behind efficiency labels, making it difficult for local communities and policymakers to accurately assess the environmental impact of these facilities.
The EU has been criticized for breaching the Aarhus Convention, which guarantees access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters. A complaint has been filed under this convention, claiming that the EU is violating these rights. The investigation also criticizes the EU for reporting only efficiency labels, rather than the actual raw data, much like appliance energy ratings.
Despite the EU's efforts to improve transparency, the lack of access to raw data hinders communities and policymakers from making informed judgments about the environmental impact of proposed or operational data centers.
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