Mega Data Centers in Switzerland: Public Service Instead of Profit for a Few?
Published
The environmental organisation Greenpeace Switzerland criticises the construction of so-called mega data centers. These huge computing facilities store and process large amounts of data for internet services, cloud applications and artificial intelligence. Greenpeace demands that such projects should not primarily serve the profit of individual companies, but the interest of the general public.
At the centre of the criticism is the question of who benefits from the data centers and who bears the consequences. Data centers require a great deal of electricity and cooling water. According to Greenpeace, this could put pressure on the energy supply and natural resources. The organisation emphasises that the advantages of such facilities often lie with a few companies, while the population and the environment have to bear the burdens.
Greenpeace therefore proposes that the state and municipalities have a stronger say in planning. The goal is for such projects to be transparent, to have a clear benefit for society and to be compatible with Switzerland's climate targets. The use of the waste heat generated by cooling is also being discussed in this context.
The debate about data centers in Switzerland is not yet over. While supporters point to new jobs and the digital economy, environmental groups are calling for clearer rules. How politicians and authorities respond to these demands will be decisive in the coming months.
Sources: Greenpeace Schweiz
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