Mayors from 40 cities around the world have endorsed a new agreement aimed at influencing how urban data centers are built and operated as governments and local communities face growing concerns over electricity demand, water consumption and land use linked to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The agreement, unveiled Tuesday during London Climate Action Week, seeks to establish common standards for data center development in cities already facing pressure on resources and infrastructure. The initiative comes at a time when energy security has become a major issue in several regions following conflicts in the Middle East and continuing disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine, which have highlighted vulnerabilities in power markets and supply chains.
