Green Party calls for moratorium on AI data centres over water and energy use
The Green Party is urging a temporary ban on new AI data centres, citing water and energy use, while the government warns of risks to jobs and security.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Green Party has called on the government to impose a temporary ban on new AI data centres in England, arguing that they consume excessive energy and water at a time when much of the country is in drought. Party leader Zack Polanski said the facilities should not be treated as critical infrastructure, a status they were given in 2024, because that implies priority over hospitals, water and electricity. He described them as "energy guzzling water guzzling" and said a moratorium was needed except for small local-scale centres.
The government rejected the call, saying any delay would be a disaster for jobs and national security. It insisted that data centres are not a blank check for big tech and that developers must use clean power, use water responsibly and provide investment to local communities. But there are no official statistics on how much water data centres use, because they are not required to report it.
The debate is not confined to Westminster. In Edinburgh, hundreds of protesters gathered against plans for more than a dozen hyperscale data centres. One demonstrator said: "We don't have the water to cool them. We've just been through a drought, El Nino hasn't even got started, and climate change is happening." Another said: "Data centres got to go. No-one has really been properly consulted."
Supporters argue that Scotland is an ideal location because of its renewable energy and water supply. One advocate said: "Scotland has a huge abundance of renewables, and we are able to take advantage of that to create genuine green AI data centres that will be run off 100% of renewables." They also pointed to closed-loop cooling systems that use less water than a few hundred houses. The First Minister said he understood the concerns but would not commit to a moratorium, saying each application would be judged appropriately by the planning system.
The issue also featured in a televised political debate, where panellists clashed over the trade-offs. One participant said: "We need data centres. Britain would be left behind without them." Another argued for a pause, saying: "They use far too much water, they're being planned for areas of extreme water scarcity and drought, they use masses of energy." A third claimed that one AI prompt uses about five drops of water, the equivalent of a kettle of coffee, but this was challenged by those who said there is no transparency in the data.
With more than 100 data centres planned across the UK, and around 477 already in operation, the tension between economic growth and environmental protection is likely to intensify. The government says it is committed to building the infrastructure needed for the AI age, but it faces growing pressure from communities and environmental groups to slow down.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | BBC Two | BBC TWO Politics Live |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A single AI prompt consumes about 0.25 millilitres of water. | · | · | ||
| The UK has around 477 data centres. | · | · | ||
| Campaigners want a moratorium on new hyperscale data centres. | · | · | · | |
| Data centres are planned for areas facing extreme water scarcity and drought. | · | · | · | |
| Data centres were classified as critical infrastructure in 2024. | · | · | · | |
| More than 100 additional data centres are planned across the UK. | · | · | · | |
| Protesters oppose more than a dozen hyperscale data centres. | · | · | · | |
| The First Minister said the government would consider all relevant evidence on individual applications. | · | · | · | |
| The government said a temporary ban would be a disaster for jobs and national security. | · | · | · | |
| The Green Party called for a temporary ban on new data centres. | · | · | · | |
| There are no official statistics on data centre water usage because they are not required to report it. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel reported the story as a straightforward political dispute, focusing on the Green Party's call for a moratorium and the government's rebuttal. It highlighted the lack of transparency around water usage and the fact that data centres were designated critical infrastructure in 2024, without delving into local protests or broader economic arguments.
- “We need to slam the brakes on these energy guzzling water guzzling data centers essentially, we need basically a moratorium other than local scale data centers for the local community at a time when three-quarters of a Country are in drought. It's outrageous that these are being considered critical infrastructure to most people critical infrastructure means hospitals Water electricity, it doesn't mean artificial intelligence”
- “The government say that any sort of temporary ban would be a disaster for both jobs and national security”
This channel gave prominence to community opposition, with live coverage of a protest in Edinburgh and interviews with local residents. It also included the counter-argument from industry supporters, presenting Scotland as a renewable energy hub. The tone was more emotive and grounded in local concerns.
- “We don't have the water to cool them. We've just been through a drought, El Nino hasn't even got started, and climate change is happening.”
- “Scotland has a huge abundance of renewables, and we are able to take advantage of that to create genuine green AI data centres that will be run off 100% of renewables.”
This channel treated the story as a policy debate, with panellists arguing over the economic necessity of data centres versus their environmental impact. It included specific claims about water consumption and national competitiveness, and featured a clip of a resident opposing a large development. The tone was combative and analytical.
- “we need to listen, and that's why I've been working with Microsoft, and let's not forget this is a £4 billion investment, 1,000 jobs for our community”
- “We're calling for a pause and really a reset of a strategy because we have to take seriously the impacts of these data centres”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.