Data centres: balancing growth, regulation, resilience and sustainability

22 July 2026 | Research | Data centres | Sustainability

Data centres are under increasing scrutiny as their energy and water demands grow alongside the expansion of AI and cloud infrastructure. In this episode, our experts Simon Sherrington and Grace Langham discuss how governments are responding through stricter sustainability requirements, planning restrictions and new reporting obligations.

They explore how policies are evolving across Europe, North America and Asia–Pacific and examine the innovations helping operators improve efficiency and resilience. Their discussion highlights what these trends mean for data centre operators and investors seeking to balance growth ambitions with sustainability and regulatory expectations.

Hear from:

Simon Sherrington

Research Director, expert in communications infrastructure, data centres and sustainability

Grace Langham

Senior Analyst, expert in sustainability and ESG