US data centres set to emit more carbon than Mexico by 2030

US data centres planned for operation by 2030 will generate 2.1 billion metric tonnes of CO2 annually – exceeding Mexico's total national emissions, according to Sierra Club analysis. The figure exposes a structural problem in how the sector plans for growth: hyperscaler expansion assumes grid decarbonisation at a pace the actual energy transition hasn't matched. Most US electricity still derives from fossil fuels. The Sierra Club data matters because it reframes data centre expansion not as a neutral infrastructure play but as a locked-in emissions source. Tech companies have made net-zero commitments, but those typically rely on renewable energy procurement and offsets rather than demand reduction or efficiency standards. The gap between pledged decarbonisation and actual grid capacity remains unresolved. Without mandatory carbon accounting for scope 2 emissions (purchased electricity), operators can claim renewable energy PPAs whilst the grid serves them coal and gas. This is a governance failure as much as an environmental one. Investors and regulators now face a direct question: should data centre expansion proceed at planned scale, or should capacity be rationed until the electricity grid actually decarbonises? The answer determines whether net-zero targets are binding commitments or accounting exercises.

New US data centres will emit more carbon than Mexico, research finds

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