Urgent call to MSPs to attend the parliamentary debate on a data centre moratorium.

Scottish parliamentary vote on a data centre moratorium.

On Wednesday 16 September there is a parliamentary debate in the Scottish parliament, called by Patrick Harvie (S7M-01777). The Scottish Greens will use their opposition debate on Wednesday to force a vote on halting all hyperscale data centre applications, until a national strategy and updated planning guidance are produced.

We are urging MSPs to attend and vote for a moratorium.

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Dear MSPs,

On Wednesday 16 September there is a parliamentary debate in the Scottish parliament, called by Patrick Harvie (S7M-01777). The Scottish Greens will use their opposition debate to force a vote on halting all hyperscale data centre applications over 50MW, until a national strategy and updated planning guidance are produced.

I am urging you, as an MSP, to attend the debate and vote in favour of halting data centre construction.

Why you should support the vote

Just two weeks ago, hundreds of people from 14 different communities across Scotland joined together to organise a demonstration outside the Scottish parliament, showing the depth of opposition across Scotland. We are calling on you to listen to your constituents and join the opposition to these projects.

So far the Scottish parliament's action on data centres has been sorely limited. Last month, the regulations were tightened a little so that local councils must now notify ministers if a new data centre application is submitted. This is nowhere near enough. We need a moratorium before these projects are allowed to devastate Scottish countryside and communities.

Data centre plans would be a huge drain on energy resources, and would significantly increase Scotland's carbon emissions.

if all of the planned data centres in Scotland were to go ahead, then their energy needs would amount to more than 7000MW of electricity.  For comparison, Scotland currently uses 4000MW of energy in winter. At a time when the world is facing climate catastrophe, building these data centres flies in the face of reason.

Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie wrote on Monday:

“We will be forcing the Scottish Government to make a very simple choice. Will they put a pause on the rush to build hyperscale data centres, or will they continue to allow speculative applications to keep piling up with no national strategy in place?

The Scottish Government has had plenty of time to act and till now has chosen not to. Telling councils to notify Ministers when an application arrives is not a strategy, and it does nothing to stop these developments. Very basic questions such as what defines a ‘green’ data centre have been left unanswered for far too long.

If Ministers believe Scotland should continue accepting hyperscale data centres on this scale, they should say so. If they recognise that we need a national plan before these projects are allowed to reshape our energy system and our communities, they should back our motion.

This vote, using the Greens’ parliamentary time, is an opportunity for every MSP, regardless of party allegiance, to stand with communities across Scotland and demand a pause while proper national rules are put in place. The Scottish Government should stop sitting on the fence and back our call for action.”

AI data centres harm wildlife

The effect of these projects on animals is massive. Huge AI campuses take up vast swathes of land, destroying and fragmenting habitats.

Research has shown that the intense humming, vibration and other noise from data centres can reach a level where it prevents wildlife from living normal lives. Studies carried out in the US indicate that living next to AI data facilities negatively affects hormone levels and breeding for many species.

Light pollution from huge AI campuses can disorientate many species and disrupt migration for birds. Many local communities in the UK have raised concerns over the effects of data centre construction on bats, barn owls and waterbirds.

Electromagnetic fields, caused by the high transmission power lines required by data centres, adversely affect pollinators including honeybees. This could affect the biodiversity and health of entire wild areas.

The water needs of these facilities could reduce the amount of waterflow available for rivers, wetlands and wildlife that could affect fish, amphibians, birds and mammals that rely on healthy freshwater habitats. Warmed and inadequately cleaned wastewater released from AI data centres is likely to affect water systems too, as well as the lives that rely on them.

AI development is not worth devastating our cherished wildlife. We urge you to join many others in demanding an immediate pause to AI projects until proper checks and EIAs have been carried out. If AI projects have a significant negative effect on wildlife, the environment and communities then the answer is simple: they should not go ahead.

Yours sincerely,

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Yours sincerely,

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Urgent call to MSPs to attend the parliamentary debate on a data centre moratorium.

Scottish parliamentary vote on a data centre moratorium.

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