Thesis defence Regulating the environmental impact of data centres in the European Union Add to calendar 2026-07-14 09:30 2026-07-14 11:30 Europe/Rome Regulating the environmental impact of data centres in the European Union Sala del Torrino Villa Salviati - Castle YYYY-MM-DD Print Share: Share on Facebook Share on BlueSky Share on X Share on LinkedIn Send by email Scheduled dates Jul 14 2026 09:30 - 11:30 CEST Sala del Torrino, Villa Salviati - Castle Organised by Department of Law PhD thesis defence by Arianna Crosera The thesis examines how the rising environmental impact of data centres is regulated in the European Union, and how it should be regulated. A socio-legal study grounded in fieldwork and in-depth interviews with stakeholders that contribute to regulating the data centre industry, the thesis seeks to understand what a ‘responsive regulation’ of data centres might look like in the EU. The thesis characterises data centres as infrastructures, highlighting their environmental history and elements that contribute to describing their posture towards environmental regulation. It identifies the 2021-2023 energy crisis in Europe as a defining moment for the environmental regulation of data centres, arguing that the crisis led to regulatory changes related to planning, environmental information and self-regulation. The thesis finds that the EU’s stance towards the environmental regulation of data centres mainly relies on the use of regulation by information, but that this choice leaves several risks open: low deterrence, trust valleys and regulatory capture. Ultimately, the thesis argues that a ‘responsive regulation’ of data centres should create entry points for civil society intervention in this sector, chiefly through understanding and leveraging business models within the industry, enabling escalation and strengthening tripartism, leveraging technical standards and classification systems and fostering civil society alliances for sustainable computing. Register Related events