UK Green Party Leader Calls for Nationwide Data Center Moratorium Amid Drought Crisis

The leader of the UK's Green Party has called for an immediate halt to data center development across the country, citing severe water stress and energy consumption concerns following the driest July on record and a prolonged drought.

Zack Polanski, speaking to the BBC at the site of a proposed data center in East London, argued that new projects should not receive approval until a comprehensive review of their environmental impact is conducted. "We need to slam the brakes on these energy-guzzling, water-guzzling data centers," he said. "Essentially, we need basically a moratorium, other than local-scale data centers for the local community. At a time when three-quarters of the country are in drought, it is outrageous that these are being considered critical infrastructure. To most people, critical infrastructure means hospitals, water, electricity. It doesn't mean artificial intelligence."

The call comes amid growing scrutiny of the data center industry's resource consumption. While the sector's water usage is a subject of debate—newer AI-focused facilities often employ closed-loop cooling systems with minimal water draw, while older or less efficient sites can consume substantial volumes—the pressure on local water supplies has become a flashpoint. Affinity Water, the supplier covering the data center hotspot of Slough, told the UK Parliament earlier this year that data center water demand remains a concern. The company noted that requirements vary widely, "ranging from a few cubic meters up to potentially 10 million liters per day depending on size and recycling infrastructure... with some individual facilities requesting supplies of up to 35 liters per second, equivalent to the peak water demand of 3,500 homes. One proposal sought to consume 21ML/day, equivalent to the water needs of approximately 147,000 people."

Industry data suggests the sector's overall water footprint remains modest relative to other users. The Water Research Centre consultancy estimated in February that data centers in England consume approximately 1.9 billion liters of drinkable water annually—around 0.2 percent of the non-household market—but flagged a "clear upward trend" in usage. The industry also uses less water than sectors such as golf courses, yet the pace of expansion has intensified concerns, particularly in drought-prone regions.

The ruling Labour Party has rejected the Green Party's proposal, warning that a moratorium would have severe economic and strategic consequences. A government spokesperson said: "A pause on building new data centers would simply send investment and good jobs abroad, while leaving Britain dependent on overseas computing for the processing of sensitive health and defense data. Put simply: it would be a disaster for jobs and national security. That said, this does not mean a blank cheque for Big Tech or that every data center should be approved. Developers must plan to use clean power, use water responsibly, create British jobs and supply chains, and provide investment to the communities in which they are built."

The debate underscores a broader tension facing the UK as it seeks to position itself as a leader in AI and digital infrastructure while grappling with the environmental limits of a changing climate. With data center capacity continuing to grow at record levels, the question of how to balance technological ambition with resource sustainability is likely to remain a central policy challenge.