In recent years, the rapid growth of AI data centres has led to an exponential increase in their demand for water, energy, and land. In the past five years alone, the footprint of AI data centres has dramatically expanded, prompting significant concerns about the sustainability of our public utilities and infrastructure.

The government needs to act now to protect public access to energy and water—resources that belong to everyone. With the increasing encroachment of data centres, there is an urgent need to set absolute caps on the amount of energy and water they can use. The goal should be to balance the growth of technology with the preservation of essential public services. Without these safeguards, AI data centres threaten to monopolize our resources, putting the public at risk of shortages and increased utility costs.

Beyond the direct competition for resources, there are environmental concerns tied to the large energy and water requirements of AI data centres. According to studies from environmental agencies, IT infrastructure already accounts for a significant portion of global energy consumption,.The excessive usage of these finite resources not only exacerbates climate change but also threatens local ecosystems.

The time to act is now. I urge the government to impose regulatory measures that safeguard public energy and water infrastructure from the demands of AI data centres. This should involve setting definitive consumption limits, promoting the use of renewable resources, and ensuring that any operational costs that increase due to AI data centres are not passed on to the public.

It is essential that we prioritize the well-being of our communities over the unchecked expansion of technology sectors. Ensuring fair and equitable access to water and energy is a responsibility we all share. We cannot afford to wait until it’s too late. Please join me in calling for legislative action to protect our vital public resources by signing this petition.