In Phoenix, that means putting guardrails in place early. The city has already implemented zoning rules that direct this infrastructure away from residential areas and into industrial areas, and define basic protections, including for fire safety. Growth is continuing, but it is being shaped to reflect the broader needs of the community.
In Melbourne, we are developing guidance that promotes best practice in site planning, design and operation of data centers and other AI infrastructure. Melbourne is engaged with the state and federal governments to strengthen regulations to ensure measurable community and climate benefits.
Across the C40 Cities network, mayors are adapting their policies to align data center demands with climate goals: Stockholm is utilizing waste heat from data centers to warm thousands of homes. Cape Town is opening pathways for facilities to access renewable energy through the grid. Across Europe, planning frameworks are tightening, bringing more discipline to where and how facilities are built.
We cannot afford to let this become a race to the bottom or to allow the fear of missing out on new technology result in data centers being waived through our planning processes.
We are not anti-data center or anti-AI. These technologies will influence all parts of our lives in the years and decades to come. We just believe that they must be developed on terms that work for the cities and residents that host them, not imposed in ways that undermine climate goals or shift costs onto households. With the scale of investment flowing into this sector, and the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that this industry brings to bear, there is a genuine opportunity to accelerate clean energy rather than lock in new fossil fuel demand.
These are practical, city-led solutions to a global challenge. Investors and tech companies need clarity so they can expand responsibly and invest in our cities. Residents need confidence that their voices will be heard and that they will see the benefits of these developments. Strong city leadership provides both.
The companies building the infrastructure of the AI age now face a choice. They can repeat the mistakes of earlier tech booms by extracting resources, driving up energy demand and leaving communities to absorb the costs, or they can help build a new model where digital growth strengthens cities.
The decisions made in cities around the world over the next few years will shape not only the future of AI, but the future liveability and sustainability of cities themselves. We’re calling on our fellow city leaders and those developing data centers to join us in this mission. Together, we can set a higher standard for decades to come.