Influx of data centers threatens air quality, public health in Atlanta, environmental activists say – Georgia Public Broadcasting

Report on the Environmental and Public Health Impact of Data Center Expansion in Atlanta, Georgia

Executive Summary

This report addresses concerns raised by environmental advocates regarding the rapid, unchecked expansion of the data center industry in Georgia, with a specific focus on the metropolitan Atlanta area. The central issue is the potential degradation of air quality and the subsequent adverse effects on public health, which directly conflict with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Concerns and SDG Implications

The proliferation of data centers presents a multi-faceted challenge to sustainable development. The primary concerns are categorized below, with direct links to relevant SDGs.

1. Public Health and Air Quality Degradation (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being)
   • Environmental groups assert that increased energy demand from data centers, often met by fossil fuel-based power generation, will heighten air pollution.
   • This directly threatens the achievement of SDG 3 by potentially increasing the incidence of respiratory and other pollution-related illnesses among the local population.
2. Energy Consumption and Sustainability (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy & SDG 13: Climate Action)
   • The massive energy footprint of data centers places significant strain on the regional power grid.
   • This development pattern challenges progress towards SDG 7 by potentially increasing reliance on non-renewable energy sources to meet demand.
   • Consequently, this undermines SDG 13 by contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and hindering climate action efforts.
3. Sustainable Infrastructure and Urban Development (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)
   • While data centers are a component of modern infrastructure (SDG 9), their current growth trajectory lacks sufficient environmental regulation to be considered sustainable.
   • The negative externalities, particularly air pollution in a major urban center like Atlanta, conflict with the objectives of SDG 11 to create safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The unchecked growth of the data center industry in Georgia poses a significant threat to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals related to health, clean energy, climate action, and sustainable cities. It is imperative that industrial development strategies incorporate robust environmental safeguards and align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to mitigate harm to public health and ensure a sustainable future for the region.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues related to public health, air quality, and the environmental impact of industrial growth, which directly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s main concern is the threat to “public health” in metro Atlanta due to declining “air quality” caused by the data center industry.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The focus on the environmental impact within a specific urban area, “metro Atlanta,” and the degradation of its “air quality” directly relates to making cities more sustainable and safe.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article discusses the “unchecked growth in Georgia’s data center industry.” This points to the need for developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure that does not harm the environment or public health.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: Although not explicitly stated, data centers are known for their high energy consumption. The resulting air pollution implies that the “power” being used is generated from non-renewable sources, connecting the issue to the need for cleaner energy.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The emissions from powering a massive industry like data centers contribute to air pollution and climate change, making this a relevant goal. The article’s focus on the environmental consequences of industrial growth aligns with the need to integrate climate change measures into policies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.”
   • Explanation: The article directly links the growth of data centers to threats against “air quality” and “public health,” which aligns with this target’s goal of reducing illnesses caused by air pollution.
2. Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…”
   • Explanation: The article is geographically specific, focusing on the negative environmental effects in “metro Atlanta.” The central theme of threatened “air quality” in an urban center makes this target highly relevant.
3. Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes…”
   • Explanation: The phrase “unchecked growth in Georgia’s data center industry” implies that the current expansion is not sustainable. This target is relevant as it calls for making industries and infrastructure environmentally sound.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention specific quantitative indicators, but it implies several that could be used to measure progress:

1. Indicator for Target 3.9:
   • Implied Indicator: Mortality and morbidity rates attributed to air pollution in metro Atlanta. The article’s warning that the industry “could harm public health” implies that tracking health outcomes related to air quality is a key measure of the problem’s severity. This relates to the official indicator 3.9.1 (Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution).
2. Indicator for Target 11.6:
   • Implied Indicator: The concentration of pollutants in the air of metro Atlanta. The central concern about “air quality” suggests that measuring particulate matter (like PM2.5) and other pollutants would be the primary way to assess the environmental impact. This relates to the official indicator 11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter in cities).
3. Indicator for Target 9.4:
   • Implied Indicator: Emissions intensity of the data center industry in Georgia. The term “unchecked growth” suggests a lack of regulation on the industry’s environmental footprint. An indicator could be the amount of CO2 or other pollutants emitted per unit of economic value or energy consumed by the data centers. This relates to the official indicator 9.4.1 (CO2 emission per unit of value added).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: gpb.org