NSW data centres submission
Summary
The Centre for Safe Air has made a submission to the NSW Public Accountability and Works Committee inquiry into data centres, outlining growing concerns about the air quality and health impacts associated with the sector’s rapid expansion. The submission highlights ongoing reliance on backup diesel generators as a largely unregulated source of harmful air pollution. The expansion of the data centres in outer urban areas, especially Western Sydney, places vulnerable populations at greater risk. The Centre calls for stronger planning and regulatory frameworks, including mandatory assessment of generator emissions, alignment with international emissions standards, and a shift toward cleaner and more efficient backup power solutions. Photo by İsmail Enes Ayhan on Unsplash
Format
Category
Suggested Citation
Cooper N, Dodd B, Green D, Johnston F, on behalf of the Centre for Safe Air. Submission to the New South Wales Public Accountability and Works Committee inquiry into data centres. Centre for Safe Air; April 2, 2026.
Published
2026
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND