CyrusOne, Aruba Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact compliant

Two major data centre operators in Europe, CyrusOne and Aruba, have announced that each had successfully audited an operational data centre as compliant with the terms of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP or "Pact"). 

The Pact sets stringent targets for environmental performance and sustainability goals in five key areas: energy efficiency, use of green power, water use, recycling and reuse of waste heat. Collectively meeting these targets will ensure data centres are climate neutral by 2030.

CNDCP has developed a detailed auditing framework to test compliance with the Pact's sustainability goals. This framework was shared with the European Commission at the end of 2022, and it is now available for any independent auditing firms to use with their customers. These first audits, conducted by Bureau Veritas, demonstrate the framework's effectiveness and the Pact as an enforceable commitment to climate action.

All data centre operators that are signatories to the Pact must audit their compliance with its goals using data from January 1, to December 31, following the first anniversary of their signing. The auditing process ensures that Pact signatories provide independent compliance verification with their commitment to making data centres climate neutral by 2030.

Data centre operators demonstrating verifiable environmental credentials may find it easier to access significant low-cost green funding for their developments as part of schemes, including the recent European Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. In addition, audited compliance with the Pact's climate-neutral targets could enable access to such green funding.

The Pact's auditing framework can also assist data centre operators as they seek to demonstrate alignment with a broader range of existing and planned regulations, including the Energy Efficiency Directive and the EU Taxonomy Regulation 2020/852 for owners and operators of the data centre facilities.

"We are delighted that CyrusOne has been able to use the Audit Framework to demonstrate that we are on-track to meet the targets established under the Pact and the directives of EU Taxonomy. Not only is this critical to manage our own progress, but it establishes a clear benchmark of real action for our sector and beyond," says Matt Pullen, EVP and MD Europe, CyrusOne and Chairman of the CNDCP Board.

"Climate neutrality is an essential and non-negotiable objective. Auditing ourselves against the Pact requirements proves that we have the processes and measures in place to make it happen by 2030," adds Fabrizio Garrone, Enterprise Solution Director, Aruba.

"When we established the CNDCP we agreed with the European Commission that the progress would be audited on a regular basis. As these first audits come in we're proud to show that this is a sector that delivers on its commitments," notes Michael Winterson, Chairman of EUDCA and CNDCP monitoring and reporting group lead.

"The data centre industry is under increasing scrutiny. These verified, independent audits prove that our signatories are leading the charge to climate neutrality," concludes Francisco Mingorance, secretary general of CISPE, and co-founder of the Pact with EUDCA.