Data centres are the backbone of Australia’s digital economy - and their environmental footprint is growing just as fast as demand.
Australia’s data centre energy consumption is projected to grow. The pressure on energy grids, water supplies and communities is already being felt, and the expectations of investors, government and the public are shifting in step.
What isn’t settled yet is how the sector responds. The standards for how data centres use energy, water and land are still being written. GBCA is committed to help chart the path forward - in partnership with industry, and grounded in the realities of data centre operations.
In partnership with Data Centres Australia, we have launched the Sustainable Data Centres program - a collaborative initiative to define best-practice sustainability outcomes across the design, construction, and operation of data centres in Australia.
"Data centres are rapidly becoming some of the most important infrastructure in Australia’s economy, but also some of the most resource-intensive. The sector has a critical window right now to embed sustainability before today’s decisions become tomorrow’s problems. GBCA has spent decades showing that sustainability and commercial performance are not competing priorities, they strengthen each other. This partnership is about bringing that same level of rigour, credibility and ambition to one of Australia’s fastest-growing industries." - Davina Rooney, Chief Executive Officer - Green Building Council of Australia.
"This partnership is about setting a credible benchmark for sustainable data centre development that positions Australia as a global leader in building and operating data centres responsibly." - Belinda Dennett, Chief Executive Officer - Data Centres Australia.
Sustainable Data Centres Forum
GBCA is proud to announce the inaugural Sustainable Data Centres Forum - bringing together the owners, developers, designers, operators, and consultants driving sustainability outcomes across Australia’s data centre sector.
With demand forecast to grow tenfold by 2035, the decisions being made now about how data centres are designed, built and operated will define the sector's sustainability trajectory for decades. The forum is where those decisions get examined – through real-world case studies, practical solutions and the conversations the industry needs to be having.
Tuesday 17 November 2026 · Dockside, Sydney
Visit the Sustainable Data Centres Forum event page to find out more.
Get Involved
There are three ways to get involved:
Sustainable Data Centres Working Group
The Working Group will advise GBCA on technical guidance, thought leadership, and a potential Green Star certification pathway for data centres. Members will bring expertise from across the sector - developers, operators, consultants, builders, utilities, investors, and government - to ensure Australia’s digital infrastructure sets the benchmark for sustainability performance.
We welcome experienced professionals and emerging leaders alike, and are committed to building a group that reflects the full breadth of the sector - across backgrounds, locations, career stages, and perspectives.
The Working Group meets quarterly with additional meetings as required, and focus groups convened as needed. In most cases, nominees must be from a GBCA member organisation.
Apply via Expression of Interest.
To understand the full scope of the role before applying, please review the Working Group’s Terms of Reference.
“If we want data centres that are resilient, resource-efficient and consider their community, we need to have a review grounded in evidence, shaped by industry and considering the realities of operating in Australia.” - Davina Rooney, Chief Executive Officer - Green Building Council of Australia
Partner with us
The Sustainable Data Centres Forum is an unmatched opportunity to be positioned at the forefront of Australia's most significant new infrastructure conversation – with direct visibility among the owners, developers, designers, operators and consultants driving sustainability outcomes across the sector.
We're seeking values-aligned partners from across the industries that intersect with data centre development: energy, water, technology, finance, construction and community.
To receive our partnership prospectus or arrange a conversation, reach out to
Brooke Ravens - Partnership Manager
E: brooke.ravens@gbca.org.au
Pilot Program
We're looking for organisations with live data centre projects in Australia to join our pilot program. Participants will help shape what best-practice sustainability looks like on the ground and have the opportunity to influence the guidance before it's finalised.
Have a project to nominate? Get in touch:
Jamie Wallis
Senior Manager - Buildings, Fit outs & Performance
E: jamie.wallis@gbca.org.au
Thanks to our Sustainable Data Centres Partner:
