THE DATA CENTRE INTERVIEW
I t is becoming vital for the data centre industry to improve its sustainability performance, particularly as AI and cloud technologies are ramping up power and energy demands.
As those in the industry seek to understand and curb their environmental impact, they are taking advice from experts who can consult on how a data centre can reduce emissions and overall energy usage. Moving forward, this could not only support the long-term impact of the data centre on its surrounding environment, but also give it a competitive edge. We hear expert insight on this from Catriona Shearer, Global Head of Data Centre Consulting at JLL. Serving clients all over the world, her role is to help clients identify and solve their problems across the entire data centre lifecycle by connecting the right experts to the right people.“ Around half of the work we do with our clients has a sustainability focus from investing frameworks, to certifications such as GRESB or BREEAM, across full ESG strategies and into the detail of global decarbonisation planning for example,” she says.
Understanding AI demands in the data centre Significant changes to how businesses approach the subject of sustainability are usually driven by either customers or legislation and regulations. Catriona explains that, when it comes to data centres, both are critical drivers.
“ This is positive for the speed of change because it means the industry has very real commercial pressure to improve wherever possible if they wish to remain attractive and competitive to their clients, as well as the structure, framework and consequences that legislation brings,” she explains.
“ This translates to data centres not just understanding and accepting their responsibilities due to the scale of our consumption – which I believe they all do – but also to needing to act in a structured and measured way, consistently seeking an improved position so that they remain compliant and competitive.”
42 August 2025