Following the publication of the new data center playbook , this is the second in a series of deep dives exploring the global market’s new race conditions for those investing in, developing, and operating data centers.
This article examines the social and community risk factors facing data center developers and the lessons from other industries that have navigated similar challenges.
The changing landscape
Data centers are not a new concept but the scale and pace of AI innovation has rapidly raised the sector's profile. They are now exposed to competing interests: realising the potential of AI and helping governments achieve economic growth on one hand, while ensuring sustainable development that avoids harm to the environment and host communities on the other.
Larger and more physically prominent developments are prompting legitimate questions about land use, noise, energy and water consumption. Opposition is becoming increasingly sophisticated, often successfully delaying or stalling projects in a race where speed of deployment is paramount. There is growing acknowledgement that the sector must improve its approach to understanding social risk through better community engagement.
