University of Cambridge scientists have discovered a pronounced heat island phenomenon correlated with the development of data centres.
Called the Data Heat Island Effect, the study showed that temperatures are rising an average of 3.6 degrees fahrenheit (2 degrees C) in areas immediately surrounding the " locations of the main AI hyperscaler centres", while as much as a 16.4 (9.1 degrees C) degree increase was shown in the most extreme cases. Its findings also provided insight into how widely felt the thermal effects are, claiming the centres and associated heat islands could impact a total of over 340 million people worldwide.
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Each of the 6,733 data centres that constituted the research group were located away from largely dense metropolitan areas. The study claimed that heat island effects were being carried by a distance of up to 6 miles (10 kilometres) from the facilities.
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"The prevailing logic has been one of acceleration, the infamous 'move fast and break things', which translates into building capacity first and perhaps mitigating later," Harvard researcher and architect Marina Otero Verzier told Dezeen. "If development continues at this pace, we will see a significant increase in emissions, the intensification of thermal effect." "These impacts extend well beyond the data centers themselves, shaping entire territories, although those living next to them usually bear the burden." "In a context of ecological fragility and energy instability, a moratorium is needed, followed by a much stricter regulatory framework that would involve public oversight."
9 April 2026
