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.
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.
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.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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