Google misstates carbon emissions for two UK AI datacentres

Google’s planning applications for two AI datacentres in Essex list emissions that are five times lower than independent calculations suggest [1]. The Thurrock site, a 52‑hectare development on “grey belt” land, claimed to emit 0.033 % of the UK’s carbon budget for 2028‑2032, but the correct figure is 0.165 % [1]. The North Weald project, sited on an airfield near Epping Forest, reported 0.043 % for 2033‑2037, while the actual share is 0.215 % [1].

Foxglove, a tech‑justice nonprofit, identified the error as a mismatch between one year of projected datacentre emissions and the UK’s five‑year carbon budget [1]. By comparing a single year’s output to a five‑year total, the developers made the environmental impact appear five times smaller. The same miscalculation appears in Greystoke’s Elsham Tech Park plan in north Lincolnshire, which would contribute 0.5215 % of the 2033 carbon budget instead of the reported 0.1043 % [1]. Together, the three projects would account for more than 1 % of the UK’s 2033 carbon budget—roughly the emissions of a mid‑sized city such as Bristol [1].

The discrepancy matters because the projects are classed as having a “minor adverse” impact on national climate goals, yet the Thurrock datacentre would emit more carbon than an international airport, and Greystoke’s peak output would approach the 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ emitted by all UK domestic flights [1]. Tim Squirrell, Foxglove’s head of strategy, says the misstatement “looks like they are seriously misleading the council and the public” and urges Google to explain the figures [1]. Local officials, such as Councillor Steven Heather, note that the planning department will scrutinise the submissions and expect revised numbers [1].

If the corrected emissions are accepted, regulators may need to reassess the projects’ compliance with the UK’s climate roadmap, which already faces pressure from rising datacentre electricity use—now 5.9 % of national consumption [4]. The case highlights a broader risk that inaccurate environmental reporting could undermine policy targets and public trust as AI infrastructure expands.

The open question is whether Google will revise its figures and how the planning authorities will respond, potentially setting a precedent for stricter verification of carbon disclosures in future AI datacentre proposals.