Majority of datacenters are vulnerable to climate threats like floods and fires, study finds
Summary
A new report finds that nearly 80% of datacenters worldwide face risks from climate hazards like floods, fires, and extreme winds. These risks can cause disruptions, higher repair costs, and affect digital services that rely on these datacenters.Key Facts
- Around 80% of datacenters are exposed to extreme climate threats such as flooding, strong winds, and wildfires.
- Chronic climate risks like heat and drought affect 54% of datacenter markets globally.
- Most datacenters in the Americas (86%) face risks from floods, wind, and wildfires, compared to 60% in Asia-Pacific and 25% in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Asia-Pacific datacenters have the highest exposure (89%) to heat and drought risks.
- In the US, important datacenter areas like the Carolinas, Atlanta, New York-New Jersey, and northern Virginia are among the most at risk.
- Many new datacenters are being built in vulnerable regions, even though safer locations exist.
- Datacenters use a lot of water, and about two-thirds of upcoming US datacenters are planned in drought-affected areas.
- Climate damage to datacenters can cause wider service disruptions and strain local power and water resources.
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