PHOENIX, Arizona — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego joined mayors from 40 cities worldwide this week in endorsing a voluntary pact designed to ensure data center development is sustainable and does not come at the expense of natural resources and community well-being.
The pact, launched by the C40 Cities alliance during London Climate Action Week, establishes standards for urban data centers — including requirements to build on underutilized land, use renewable energy, minimize water consumption, and create local jobs. Metropolitan areas within the C40 network already host approximately 1,700 data centers, with development expected to grow more than 40% in 50 of those cities.
> "We understand the importance of this innovation, it's creating great jobs in our community. We just want to make sure that we get it right for our local residents and for the health of our planet," Mayor Gallego said.
Phoenix is a top-10 data center market in North America, with pending permits that could double the region's electricity demand if all projects are built. The pact aims to prevent a "race to the bottom" where cities desperate for investment accept data centers on any terms, according to Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, who co-led the initiative with Gallego.
