Majority of datacenters are vulnerable to climate threats like floods and fires, study finds

A new study has found that nearly 80% of datacenters worldwide are vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as floods, fires, and extreme winds, potentially disrupting operations and increasing costs.

The study, which examined 97 global datacenter markets, revealed that 54% of these markets are impacted by chronic climate risk factors like extreme heat and drought^[1]. The Americas region has 86% of its datacenter capacity in elevated-risk markets for flood, wind, and wildfire, while the Asian-Pacific market is most vulnerable to heat and drought, with 89% exposure. Regions such as the Carolinas, Atlanta, and northern Virginia in the US are among the most exposed to climate threats. The findings suggest that datacenter development is often prioritized in areas with challenging operating conditions, despite the associated climate risks. This vulnerability can have far-reaching consequences, as datacenter disruptions can affect not only local operations but also the digital services that rely on them^[1].