ChipsThe story, in brief
Big Tech’s data centre boom poised to drive up carbon emissions
60 mega data centers. 27 coal plants' worth of carbon. The AI buildout's climate bill is about to get real.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
The physical infrastructure race behind AI — data centers, power, cooling — is driving unprecedented carbon emissions. Practitioners budgeting AI infrastructure and enterprises planning deployments need to factor in both environmental impact and regulatory risk as governments begin scrutinizing the buildout.
The key facts
5 to know60 largest planned data-center facilities analyzed
Annual emissions equivalent to 27 coal plants
Annual emissions equivalent to 24 million cars
FT analysis of Big Tech expansion plans
Published August 2026
Go to the source
Financial Times Technologyft.com
Publisher excerpt: FT analysis finds 60 largest planned facilities could emit equivalent of 27 coal plants or 24mn cars per year