Tool demonstrates alignment with EU Taxonomy Regulation and compliance with Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact Sustainability criteria.
Brussels. 07.00 CET 8th December 2022. Today signatories of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (“Pact”), launched an Audit Framework to assess and verify the compliance of data centre operators with the Pact’s Self-Regulatory Initiative (SRI) and make data centres climate neutral by 2030. All Pact signatories have committed to a range of sustainability goals covering energy efficiency, use of green power, water use, recycling and reuse of waste heat. The Auditing Framework provides the means to independently verify compliance with these commitments to make data centres climate neutral by 2030.
From next year, all Pact signatories will be expected to demonstrate compliance with the SRI using the Pact Auditing Framework. It will no longer be possible to simply claim adherence and Pact signatories will stand out for their verifiable sustainability credentials; plus, any organisation procuring data centre services will have an independent, auditable measure to assess environmental credentials. The CNDCP hopes its new Audit Framework can be integrated into public procurement guidelines for the cloud.
Alignment with the EU Taxonomy to achieve certified climate neutrality goals
The Audit Framework provides a description of the evidence required in order assess and verify alignment with the EU Taxonomy Regulation 2020/852 (“the Taxonomy”) for Owners and Operators of the Data Center facilities. By leveraging the process and evidence gathering required to verify compliance with the Taxonomy, this Auditing Framework also enables Owners and Operators of the Data Center facilities to report against the CNDCP Key Performance Indicators for operational sustainability. In addition, the Framework will form part of Gaia-X verifiable credentials and become searchable criteria within its catalogue of federated cloud services.
‘Green funding’ without greenwashing
A range of accredited 3rd party auditors, including Bureau Veritas, will be authorised to use the Audit Framework to assess and certify compliance of individual data centres, operators, or specific tenants with the terms of the Pact. The framework will prove indispensable for those seeking ‘green funding’ for data centre investment or specific digital initiatives.
Avoiding duplication and providing a future-proof auditing tool for sustainability
Many operators of the Data Center facilities are already certified against multiple energy efficiency and sustainability standards. Consistent with EU legislation recognising equivalent standards, the Audit Framework provides an analysis of correspondence between European (CEN-CENLEC, EU Code of Conduct) and International (ISO/EIC) standards, when two equivalent standards exist and achieve the same or similar purpose. The Auditing Framework is also designed to adapt to future legislation in the field, such as the Energy Efficiency Directive and enable the auditing and certification of data centres operators against future sustainability auditing requirements.
Similarly, the table of correspondences between EU and International standards will be completed by reference to American ASHRAE ANSI/ISA Standards which can be required by operators of the Data Center with a global footprint.
Marking the launch of the Audit Framework, Michael Winterson, EUDCA chairperson, said: “Today sees the culmination of a detailed project to create a solid foundation to underpin our signatories’ commitments. With less than two years until compliance with some of our targets is required, the Framework marks an important acceleration in our journey as we place formal, independent verification of our environmental sustainability at the heart of the Pact.”
“The implementation of the CNDCP Audit Framework marks an end to accusations of greenwashing across the industry,” commented Francisco Mingorance, secretary general of CISPE and Pact Board Member. “With this tool signatories can demonstrate and prove the steps they are taking to comply with the far-reaching commitments set out in the Pact’s Self-Regulator Initiative. We do not know of any other industries that have taken such definitive steps to back up sustainability claims.”
“This is a significant step for our sector, and indeed any sector,” added Matt Pullen, EVP and Managing Director Europe at CyrusOne, Chairperson of the CNDCP and EUDCA Board Member. “We will be moving swiftly to achieve certification and to act as a role model for other operators and other businesses by proving we do what we say we’ll do to protect the planet.”
About the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact: The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact brings together over 80 Data Centres operators and providers of cloud infrastructures services and 22 Sector Association across Europe representing the majority of all market actors in Europe. Established with the support of the European Commission and launched by Executive Vice President Timmermans in January 2021, the Pact is an unprecedented initiative by the data centre industry in Europe to proactively define and promote specific measures and targets to achieve climate neutrality across the sector by 2030.
About the CNDCP Audit Framework: The CNDCP Audit Framework was developed by Bureau Veritas, a world-leader in trusted testing, certification and compliance audits, working closely with CISPE and EUDCA the two founders of the Pact. The CNDCP Audit Framework augments the credibility and leadership of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact as a unique, industry-led initiative focused on delivering against stringent sustainability goals.
