ARTE Europe Weekly: Datacentres and Hidden Cost of Digital Progress

Seen as energy guzzlers and environmental polluters, datacentres are facing growing opposition across Europe.The drive for more data storage and processing capacity in Europe is fuelling protest across the continent. Their energy demands, environmental impact and effects on nearby residents are often behind the opposition. But demand is set to soar as AI development supercharges their expansion, with the EU aiming to at least triple its datacentre capacity by the end of the decade. Industry insiders and experts argue Europe needs the drive to ensure its digital sovereignty, and remain competitive globally. But with considerable concerns, is it time to put the brakes on?This programme is produced by the European platform ARTE and available in 10 languages through the European media partnership BEAM. The hub is coordinated by ARTE and includes Balkan Insight (BIRN), Sinopsis (BIRN Romania), El País (ES), Gazeta Wyborcza (PL), Internazionale (IT), Ir, (LV), Kathimerini (GR), Le Soir (BE) and Telex (HU). The partnership receives EU-funding following DG CNECT’s call for European Media Hubs within the framework of the EU’s Multimedia Actions.