​​Welcome from Environment Analyst 

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​​​Session 1: Ensuring sustainable data centres: why whole-systems evidence matters

The impact of data centres on water availability, demand on the power grid, air, land and natural resources are currently looked at in silo. This discussion will be a multi‑sector conversation on the real‑world challenges of data‑centre growth, and how collaborative, science‑based insights can guide smarter planning, fairer resource use and more resilient infrastructure.

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Moderator: Carolynne Lord, Senior Digital Sociologist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

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Panellists: 

• Adrian Friday, Professor of Computing and Sustainability, Lancaster University

• Jon Saltmarsh, Chief Technology Officer, Energy Systems Catapult

• Mike Rose, CEO, UKWIR

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Session 2: Effectively collecting the data needed for robust and transparent reporting on the environmental impacts of data centres 

​A Holistic Approach: Driving a Sustainable Future for the Data Centre Sector

The importance of a holistic approach and strategy, supported by data collection and evidencing. Explored through an overview of the principles of Azolla, AtkinsRéalis’ sustainability framework and building design tool, enabling projects to define bespoke targets across environment, adaptation, energy, resources, economics, connectivity, social value, and health and wellbeing, with reference to project application including a combined data centre and energy campus project.

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Olivia Hough, Sustainable Materials Lead, ​AtkinsRéalis

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Short comfort break

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Ambition to Action: Setting credible decarbonisation targets for data centres 

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The data centre sector is rapidly becoming trillion-dollar infrastructure, with emissions already around 1% of the global total. As investment and emissions rise rapidly in response to demand, so too does the need for credible, standardised approaches to measuring and reducing their environmental impact. Yet organisations face persistent challenges in collecting consistent data, defining boundaries, and translating metrics into meaningful decarbonisation strategies.

This session will explore how data centre operators, investors and stakeholders can move beyond fragmented metrics toward robust, science-aligned target setting, and how decarbonisation fits within the wider environmental context of energy use, water consumption, land use and biodiversity.

Amanda Skeldon, Built Environment Engagement Specialist, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)​

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Overview of LEED

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LEED is a global framework for designing and operating high-performance data centres by reducing energy use, improving water efficiency and lowering carbon emissions, without compromising operational reliability. Through third-party certification, LEED provides transparent, verifiable performance in energy and water use, carbon reduction, and sustainable materials utilization.

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Khoi Do, Vice President, U.S. Market Transformation & Development, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)​

Anna Dowson, Senior Director of Sustainability, GreenScale Data Centres

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Raising the Bar on Sustainability: Building Better Data Centres with BREEAM

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As demand for digital infrastructure grows, data centres are under increasing pressure to deliver sustainability alongside performance and resilience. This session explores how BREEAM provides a robust, credible framework to help data centres raise the bar on sustainability while continuing to operate at scale.

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The session begins with a focused overview of how BREEAM applies to data centres, highlighting how it supports improved energy and water efficiency, climate resilience, whole life performance, and alignment with ESG and decarbonisation goals. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how BREEAM can be used as a practical tool to drive measurable outcomes rather than a compliance exercise.

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The session concludes with a fireside chat with Chris Pennington from Iron Mountain, sharing insights into Iron Mountain’s sustainability programme and the strategic reasons for choosing BREEAM across its data centre portfolio. Together, the discussion offers both technical context and real world experience on building better, more sustainable data centres.

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Breana Wheeler, Director of Operations – U.S., BRE 

Chris Pennington, Director Energy and Sustainability, Iron Mountain 

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Closing remarks and end of Day One