How can data centers create thriving hubs for technology and biodiversity?

The number of data hubs in the US has doubled over the last two years, driving a 30% rise in energy demand. With global demand expected to double by 2030, the industry faces challenges with land use, energy consumption, and water resources.

While industry leaders have focused on sustainability efforts like carbon and water neutrality and product circularity, there’s a growing emphasis on integrating biodiversity into data center planning. This shift is essential for reducing environmental impact and fostering resilient ecosystems alongside technological growth and innovation.

Leading technology companies are already taking steps to protect biodiverse habitats by minimizing building footprints, preserving sensitive ecosystems, and restoring native habitats. Others are blending engineering and ecology through nature-based solutions to create more sustainable and regenerative data center designs. These initiatives are gaining momentum, driven by increasing public awareness, interest from financial institutions, and globally relevant regulations like the European Union’s (EU) Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Ultimately, regulatory, reputational, shareholder, and market pressures will push companies to become nature positive—where nature is measurably improved from a defined baseline. Achieving nature-positive targets requires repeatable, defensible, and scientifically sound methods. But how can changes in biodiversity be consistently measured at scale across diverse geographies?

To address this, Ramboll experts, with support from NatureServe, developed the Americas Biodiversity Metric 1.0, an adaptation of the government-developed Natural England Biodiversity Metric 4.0. This first-of-its-kind tool for the Americas can serve as the basis for demonstrating no net loss or biodiversity net gain, and can be used to inform and enhance decision-making throughout the data center development process, from site selection to landscape design and facility operation, aligning with global reporting frameworks and policies.

For more details on the Americas Biodiversity Metric 1.0 and how it can guide nature-positive actions in data centers, download the full white paper here.