Sustainable Markets Initiatives in Action

SMI Pathfinders

    Pathfinders

    Pathfinder

    Buildings & Data Centres

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    Pathfinder Buildings

    The built environment produces about one-third of global carbon emissions and energy use, and decarbonising it will require an estimated $5.5 trillion a year by 2030 (IEA). Data centres are its fastest-growing sub-sector, fuelled by rising AI and cloud demand, and are expected to surpass $1 trillion in market value by 2030. 

    This Pathfinder focuses on two linked workstreams under Efficiency and Resilience: Built Environment (retrofits, new builds, low-carbon materials, energy-efficient design, and financing to unlock investment at scale) and Data Centres (grid connection, waste-heat reuse, energy efficiency, thermal management, and defining a truly sustainable data centre). 

    Problem statement

    • Data Centres: Demand for data centre capacity is growing faster than the clean energy and regulatory frameworks needed to support it, risking decades of carbon- and water-intensive infrastructure that could put global climate targets out of reach. There is still no single standard covering all aspects of sustainable data centres. 

    • Buildings: Buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions (operations and materials), yet the industry faces a dual challenge: continuing to build with high upfront and operational emissions while failing to retrofit existing stock at the speed and scale required. 

    Implementation pillars

    1. Define the Sustainable Data Centre 

      Develop a Sustainable Data Centre definition framework covering power supply, cooling technology, waste-heat reuse, efficiency, and grid interaction — including Terra Carta recognition options and mechanisms to unlock preferential access to funding, insurance, and markets

    2. Grid Resilience, Renewables Integration & Clean Co-Location 

      The SMI will identify priority markets where long grid connection timelines (3–7 years) constrain new data centre and building projects, develop policy engagement actions to reduce delays, and catalogue commercially viable clean-energy co-location models.

    3. Scale Efficient & Resilient Retrofit — Buildings Efficiency Showcase 

      Launch a Buildings Efficiency Showcase demonstrating proven retrofit technologies — circular materials, thermal management, AI-driven building controls, energy storage, and modularisation capable of delivering up to 40% total energy cost reductions today. Connect with SMI Pathfinders on SAF (Airports), Shipping (Ports) and Sports (Venues) 

    4. Amplifying Exemplars across Industries & Regions 

      Identify and amplify concrete examples of sustainable buildings and data centres across industries, finance, and regions