News

Miliband’s net zero targets at risk due to surge in data centre development

According to a senior Labour MP, emissions produced by data centres are being identified as a significant issue.

Labour leader Ed Miliband is facing calls to clarify whether the anticipated surge in energy-intensive data centres has been incorporated into his strategy for achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Ed Miliband at Lancaster House, London, speaking to open the International Summit on the Future of Energy Security hosted by the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. — Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said it's important to take data centres into account

In correspondence with the energy secretary, Labour MP Toby Perkins, who chairs the Environmental Audit Committee, expressed concern that data centres pose a significant challenge to meeting the emissions target, citing them as a "key area of concern".

Data centres are large-scale facilities that house powerful computers, which are used to support various digital services, including streaming and artificial intelligence.

The UK government has expressed support for the construction of additional data centres, aiming to establish the country as a leader in artificial intelligence, despite the substantial electricity requirements and potential reliance on gas-powered generators.

Perkins has raised concerns that the government's carbon reduction plan may not adequately account for the impact of data centres on emissions.

In his letter to Miliband, Perkins noted that the issue of data centres and their effect on energy consumption and emissions has been highlighted as a key concern, prompting his committee to question the omission of this consideration in the plan.

Perkins requested clarification on whether the impact of data centres has been factored into the plan, including projections of emissions and potential mitigation strategies.

The BBC has sought comment from Miliband's department regarding this matter.

During a committee hearing on Wednesday, Miliband stated that his Department for Energy Security and Net Zero would examine emissions from data centres.

A report by the BBC last year revealed that nearly 100 new data centres are currently in the planning stages.

Many of these data centres will be funded by US tech companies, such as Google, and are expected to be located near London.

The UK government has designated data centres as critical national infrastructure, granting them priority status and limiting the potential for local objections to hinder their development.

Perkins is leading an inquiry into the Climate Change Committee's latest emissions reduction proposals, which will inform the UK government's net zero strategy.

The proposals include a legally binding carbon budget for the period 2038-2042, which will set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

The government is required to establish this carbon budget by June, as part of its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The Climate Change Committee has stated that it was not specifically asked to provide advice on data centres, although its recommendations do anticipate a significant increase in the nation's electricity demand.

The committee's advice does not directly address data centres, but it does acknowledge the expected growth in electricity use.

Three charities – Opportunity Green, Foxglove, and Global Action Plan – have warned that data centres pose a significant risk to the UK's decarbonisation efforts, citing the potential for substantial carbon emissions.

In their written evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee's inquiry, the charities argued that excluding data centres from carbon budgets would be a serious oversight, given their potential to generate significant emissions.

The charities cited developers' estimates, which suggest that just ten of the larger data centres currently in planning or construction could increase the UK's annual emissions by the equivalent of 2.75 million tonnes of CO2.

This figure, the charities noted, would almost entirely offset the expected carbon savings from the switch to electric cars in 2025, which is estimated to be 2.9 million tonnes of CO2.

According to the National Energy System Operator, data centres in Great Britain are expected to consume approximately 7.6 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025.

A large white data centre building under construction in Hertfordshire, surrounded by green land, a river and housing estates further afield. — The number of data centres, like this Google facility in Hertfordshire, are increasing

This represents about 2% of the total electricity demand, which was estimated to be 322 terawatt-hours, according to Carbon Brief analysis.

The National Energy System Operator forecasts that data centres will increasingly be used for artificial intelligence and may install on-site gas-powered generation for backup supply.

However, there is significant uncertainty surrounding the future growth of data centres, with forecasts suggesting electricity demand could range from 30 to 71 terawatt-hours by 2050.

A source familiar with the government's approach to carbon budgets indicated that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is not currently alarmed by the growth in data centres.

Nevertheless, the source acknowledged that the department recognises the need to balance the carbon budget if data centre growth exceeds expectations.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his desire for the UK to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, and his government is establishing AI Growth Zones to facilitate the development of data centres.

Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of data centres on energy demand, water consumption, and household energy bills.

The issue of data centres and their effect on energy demand was discussed during Miliband's appearance before the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee on Wednesday.

Miliband acknowledged the importance of considering the impact of data centres on emissions.

When questioned about whether the Climate Change Committee had accounted for data centres in its latest carbon budget, Miliband stated that he was unsure but would investigate further.

Up Next

Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Business Empire and Road to Wealth

Don't Miss

Ratcliffe apologizes for immigration remarks that caused offense

Click to comment

News

GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.

For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.

Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.

News

Family of Murder Victim Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Trial Scheduling

A 21-year-old woman, Chloe Mitchell, lost her life in June 2023, and a man is set to stand trial, facing a murder charge.

The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

A close-up photo of Chloe Mitchell - a young woman with long, straight, fair hair - smiling at the camera. She is wearing black-framed sunglasses with blue lenses on her head, which are partially visible. — Chloe Mitchell's remains were found eight days after she went missing in 2023

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.

Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.

Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.

The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.

The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.

The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.

The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.

The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.

Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.

Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.

Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.

The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

A close-up of Brandon Rainey, a man with short, fair hair and stubble, looking at the camera. He is sitting in a vehicle on a dark, wet night. — Brandon Rainey is accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.

The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.

Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.

Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.

George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.

He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.

However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.

The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.

News

Keanu Reeves’ John Wick Video Game Revealed at PlayStation Event

The iconic hitman has made previous appearances in games, however, the version developed by Saber will mark the first instance where the character is voiced by Reeves.

A video game adaptation of the John Wick franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is in development, with Keanu Reeves set to lend his likeness and voice to the project.

An in game screenshot of a video game version of Keanu Reeves as the character John Wick. He is wearing a suit and looking at the camera.

The game, currently titled "Untitled John Wick Game", is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick film series.

A trailer for the game, expected to serve as a prequel to the film series, was unveiled during PlayStation's "State of Play" event on Thursday.

The event also featured announcements for remakes of several major game franchises, including the God of War trilogy, as well as a special 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman.

The John Wick film series, which has earned over $1 billion globally, follows the story of a retired assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, as he seeks vengeance in a world of high-stakes action.

Although the character of John Wick has appeared in games before, this will be the first time Keanu Reeves has provided his voice for the role.

Reeves has previous experience in the gaming industry, having played a key role in the hit game Cyberpunk 2077 as the character Johnny Silverhand.

According to Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the development team is "honored" to be working with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves to bring the John Wick universe to life in a AAA game.

The game's story will be an original narrative designed for mature audiences, featuring a mix of familiar characters from the film series and new ones.

Jenefer Brown, president of global products at Lionsgate, the producer of the John Wick films, expressed the company's goal of capturing the "intense action" and "distinctive fight choreography" that define the franchise.

The reaction to the game's announcement has been largely positive among fans on social media.

However, some fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Saber Interactive's other projects, including the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic.

Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of The Game Business, believes that the John Wick game is a strong fit for Saber Interactive, given the studio's experience with action-oriented IPs and its ability to release multiple games across various genres.

Dring notes that Saber Interactive operates as a collective of studios working on multiple IPs, allowing it to release a diverse range of games annually.

During the same event, Sony announced that Santa Monica Studios is working on remakes of the first three God of War games, building on one of the platform's most successful franchises.

An in-game screenshot of Silent Hill Townfall. We see the back of a man who is looking at a sign that says "Welcome to St. Amelia". — Konami's trailer for Silent Hill Townfall revealed it is set in St Amelia, a "fictional island inspired by Scotland"

Although a release date for the God of War remakes was not provided, Sony did announce a surprise side-scrolling prequel game, Sons of Sparta, which is available now.

The event also offered a first look at Townfall, the latest installment in the Silent Hill series, set on the fictional island of St. Amelia, which draws inspiration from Scotland.

A 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman was also announced, featuring five versions of the 1995 game, along with a near-immediate release.

Loic Gounon, brand producer for the Rayman games, discussed the anniversary edition with the BBC, highlighting the inclusion of a new documentary that explores the making of the original game, as well as accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for modern players.

To stay up-to-date on the latest tech news and trends, sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter; international readers can subscribe via an alternative link.