Australia’s GDP figures are meaningless when the boom in datacentres means destroying jobs and the climate | Greg Jericho
Australia's recent GDP growth of 0.3% has been largely driven by investment in datacentres, raising concerns about its environmental impact. The increase in datacentre investment is expected to significantly raise electricity consumption, potentially hindering efforts to achieve net-zero emissions. Critics argue that while GDP may rise, it comes at the cost of jobs and climate health.
- ▪The March GDP figures showed a 0.3% growth, primarily due to private investment in datacentres.
- ▪The Climate Council warns that the boom in datacentres could increase electricity use from 2% to 12% by 2050.
- ▪Household spending rose, but much of it was attributed to higher electricity and gas costs.
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‘We either will need to massively increase our use of renewables and batteries or datacentres will effectively destroy our ability to reduce emissions to net zero,’ Greg Jericho writes. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAPView image in fullscreen‘We either will need to massively increase our use of renewables and batteries or datacentres will effectively destroy our ability to reduce emissions to net zero,’ Greg Jericho writes. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAPGrogonomicsAustralian economyAustralia’s GDP figures are meaningless when the boom in datacentres means destroying jobs and the climateGreg JerichoIn the March quarter Australia’s economy grew 0.3%.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — Environment.
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