Sustainable Data Center Pacts
C40 Cities Has Launched a Global Pact for Greener Data Centres
Adam Harrie — June 23, 2026
C40 Cities launched the Global Urban Data Centres Pact, establishing a shared mayoral vision for sustainable urban data centers built around four pillars: strategic city integration, resource efficiency, accountability and shared prosperity. Mayors signing the pact commit to meeting data center energy demand without building new or reopening fossil-fuel power plants, instead supporting new renewable energy generation and storage capacity to match consumption.
The pact also calls for best-in-class water-use standards that avoid reliance on potable water, while encouraging the capture and reuse of waste heat for community benefit. Participating cities pledge to publish measurable sustainability and public health benchmarks and to direct fair-share pricing revenue into local sustainability and social infrastructure initiatives.
The pact shows how cities are working to align digital infrastructure growth with climate goals, resource stewardship and community benefits.
