Despite the tech industry’s focus on renewables, the advent of streaming, artificial intelligence and other services requiring lots of data is accelerating the amount of fossil fuels burned to keep data servers up and running.
The EU initiative is part of the bloc’s broader plans for a sweeping economic transformation, dubbed the “Green Deal,” across the 27-nation bloc. It plans to impose stricter emissions standards on industries, energy taxes and tougher air quality standards.
In the document, the EU said it is also planning an initiative to recycle devices, including a right to repair to extend the lifecycle of electronic devices. Politico earlier reported on the draft.
Data centers currently consume about 2% of the world’s electricity, but that’s expected to reach 8% by 2030. Moreover, only about 6% of all data ever created is in use today, according to research from Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Read more about data centers and energy use here
The document also outlines plans to launch a sweeping antitrust inquiry “with a strong focus on these new and emerging markets that are shaping our economy and society.” A previous probe into online sales led regulators to investigate Amazon.com Inc. and fine Nike Inc. and NBC Universal LLC.
The paper promises action on Internet giants later this year, saying forward-looking “regulatory responses” might be needed where online platforms have effectively become “large private gatekeepers and rule-setters.” The EU will also review and consider updating its competition rules to be able to catch any anti-competitive behavior it might be missing in the digital economy.
In addition, the EU is considering a legislative act on self-driving and connected cars to foster the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles in Europe.
Source: Bloomberg Green
Author: Natalia Drozdiak
Date: February 5, 2020