HOT TAKE: Can Cities Clean Up the Cloud?

As the AI boom drives an unprecedented rush for computing power, cities face a critical question: how do we support digital expansion, without derailing net-zero climate goals? Left unregulated, data centers can consume staggering amounts of energy and water, threaten to destabilise power grids, strain local resources, and alienate communities. But it doesn’t have to be like this: city leaders are stepping up to demand both climate-friendly solutions and accountability for big tech. In this Hot Take, we explore how local leaders are moving to prevent a digital “wild west” through international collaboration. We examine the launch of the Global Urban Data Centers Pact - a landmark commitment from 41 mayors across six continents, representing 90 million people - which aims to enforce clean energy mandates, water stewardship, and tangible community benefits for future data center development.Featured guests:Hannah Daly, Professor of Sustainable Energy at University College CorkKate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, United States of AmericaNick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, AustraliaLinks:The Cloud vs the Climate? Lessons from Ireland on the data centre debate - Cities 1.5 podcastWyoming tightens wastewater rules after Meta datacenter contractor flushed contaminated water - The GuardianMayors from around the world unite in call for sustainable urban data centres - C40 websiteUrban Data Centres - C40 websiteData centers and the climate landscape: An actionable resource for US mayors - C40 Knowledge HubThirsty for power and water, AI-crunching data centers sprout across the West - Stanford UniversityStockholm, Sweden : Heat recovery from data centres - EU Covenant of MayorsInside the C40 World Mayors Summit: The battle for cities, truth, and a fossil-free future at COP30 and beyond - Cities 1.5, featuring Lord Mayor Nick Reece on data centresSeizing the opportunity to do data centres right - Climate CouncilAustralian government announces plan for new AI and data centre regulations - Architecture AUIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/