{"primaryDescription":"<h2>MPs consider the case for expanding UK data centres</h2>\r\n<p>On Wednesday the Environmental Audit Committee continues its inquiry on data centres as it considers the environmental risks of expanding them in the UK.</p>\r\n<p>MPs are currently considering the consequences of data centres on the environment, including how much energy and water they are likely to use, and what impact this could have on the government&rsquo;s net zero goals.</p>","secondaryDescription":"<p>In the first panel, the Committee will consider the case for expanding data centres, with witnesses including the Tony Blair Institute. MPs will explore whether the demand underpinning calls for expansion is certain or speculative and what impacts data centre growth could have on emissions and energy bills.</p>\r\n<p>In the second panel, MPs will hear evidence on the environmental impacts of data centres throughout their lifecycle, and whether technology could play a role in reducing these impacts.</p>","parliamentTvUrl":"https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/cbb57ca5-32fb-4ef6-9803-9ccf9c954613","id":27709,"name":null,"startDate":"2026-07-01T14:00:00","endDate":"2026-07-01T17:00:00","cancelledDate":null,"locationId":3,"location":"The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House","eventType":{"id":6,"name":"Formal meeting (oral evidence session)","isVisit":false,"description":"Formal meetings may be held in private (for example to consider a draft report) or in public (for example to hear oral evidence), and require a minimum number of members to be present."},"eventSource":"CIS","committees":[{"contact":{"email":"eacom@parliament.uk","phone":null,"address":"Environmental Audit Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA","contactDisclaimer":"We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone.\r\nPlease be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints."},"id":62,"name":"Environmental Audit Committee","parentCommittee":null,"subCommittees":[],"house":"Commons","leadHouse":null,"category":{"id":1,"name":"Select"},"committeeTypes":[{"id":22,"name":"(HC) Public Standing Orders - Cross-cutting","committeeCategory":{"id":1,"name":"Select"}}],"showOnWebsite":true,"websiteLegacyUrl":"https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/","websiteLegacyRedirectEnabled":false,"startDate":"1997-11-12T00:00:00","endDate":null,"dateCommonsAppointed":"2024-10-28T00:00:00","dateLordsAppointed":null,"scrutinisingDepartments":[],"isLeadCommittee":true,"nameHistory":[{"id":61,"committeeId":62,"name":"Environmental Audit Committee","startDate":"1997-11-12T00:00:00","endDate":null}]}],"committeeBusinesses":[{"id":9651,"title":"Risks and opportunities to the sustainability of data centres in the UK","type":{"id":1,"name":"Inquiry","isInquiry":true,"description":"Inquiries allow committees to consider oral and written evidence on a particular topic. 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