Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
More than 100 groups plan Europe-wide protests against datacentre expansion
More than 100 groups in 15 European countries plan two days of action against datacentre expansion on November 6 and 7.
The campaign includes demonstrations, public meetings and other events, including gatherings in Dublin, Warsaw and east London.
Organisers want governments to impose a moratorium on new large-scale datacentres until clear rules and public scrutiny are in place.
They say facilities could put pressure on land, water, energy and local communities, and raise environmental and social concerns.
Datacentres support the development and operation of artificial intelligence, but the technology industry says they also create jobs and support economic growth.
The expansion is significant: 315 UK datacentres are waiting to connect to the power grid, with combined demand of 73 gigawatts, compared with national peak demand of 45 gigawatts.
The protests are planned for November 6 and 7; organisers say they want public participation before further large projects proceed.
More than 100 groups across 15 European countries are planning two days of coordinated protests against datacentre expansion on November 6 and 7.
The campaigners are calling for a moratorium on new large-scale projects until clear rules and public scrutiny are in place.
They say datacentre growth could harm the environment and communities, and increase pressure on land, water, energy, housing and jobs.
Planned actions include demonstrations, public meetings, marches, cycle rides and other events.
The tech industry says datacentres create jobs and support economic growth by enabling the development and use of AI.
- Who
- More than 100 campaign groups across 15 European countries, including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Foxglove.
- What
- They are holding two days of actions against datacentre expansion and calling for a moratorium on large-scale projects.
- When
- November 6 and 7, 2026.
- Where
- Across 15 European countries, with events including London, Dublin, Warsaw, Denmark and Amsterdam.
- Why
- Campaigners cite environmental and social costs and want proper scrutiny and public participation in decisions about new projects.
Datacentre campaigners
Datacentre industry
Aspect
Datacentre campaigners
Datacentre campaigners’ view
Datacentre industry
Datacentre industry’s view
Large-scale projects
Datacentre campaigners
Campaigners want a moratorium until clear frameworks and proper scrutiny are in place.
Datacentre industry
The industry says datacentres support AI development and deployment.
Effects on society and the economy
Datacentre campaigners
Campaigners warn of environmental and social costs, including pressure on resources, housing and jobs.
Datacentre industry
The industry argues datacentres create jobs during construction and operation and drive growth.
Coordinated protests are planned across Europe, including a photocall outside the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in London.
Further actions are planned, including events in Brick Lane, London, and Great Torrington, Devon.
- Participating groups
- More than 100
- Countries
- 15 European countries
- Campaign dates
- November 6 and 7, 2026
- UK datacentre grid queue
- 315 projects representing 73 gigawatts of demand
- UK peak energy demand
- 45 gigawatts
2 sources
What people are saying
Communities and civil society from across Europe are rising up to stop dirty data centres where they live and demand their politicians impose moratoria on large-scale data centre developments
With governments failing to answer very basic questions about how many datacenters we need, what for, where, and how pollution will be avoided, the only reasonable course of action is an immediate moratorium