The Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA) has launched a new initiative aimed at promoting sustainability across the region’s data center sector. Unveiled on International Data Centre Day, the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Accord (SDIA) establishes the first APAC-wide baseline of voluntary commitments for the industry.
The Accord addresses four key areas: energy efficiency, clean energy adoption, water use, and circular economy practices. The APDCA intends for the Accord’s targets to evolve over time. It is non-binding and designed to complement national and regional regulations, serving as a platform for ongoing collaboration between industry and government.
Jeremy Deutsch, Chairman, APDCA, said, “The SDIA demonstrates how the industry is ready to work together to ensure that digital transformation and sustainability go hand-in-hand in Asia-Pacific, it establishes the first APAC-wide baseline of industry commitments, and provides a structured platform for government-industry dialogue on how to drive further progress.”
Anuar Fariz Fadzil, CEO, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), highlighted the Accord’s relevance as the region accelerates digital and AI growth, by saying, “The SDIA reflects the region’s commitment to ensuring that digital transformation and sustainability progress hand in hand. As Malaysia advances towards becoming an AI Nation by 2030, the role of sustainable, resilient and energy-efficient digital infrastructure becomes increasingly significant.”
He continues, “As the demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow in tandem with the expansion of cloud and AI technologies, such collaborative efforts will be key to shaping sustainable, climate-resilient digital ecosystems. MDEC remains committed to supporting this transition while strengthening Malaysia’s position as a leading digital hub for the region.”
Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) also welcomed the initiative as Aileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive, IMDA, said, “Data centers are a critical foundation to Singapore’s digital economy but are resource intensive. Data centers in Singapore are already adopting measures to be more sustainable, such as by implementing the Tropical Data Center and IT Energy Efficiency standards. Singapore will continue to support data centers to promote these sustainable and energy-efficient technologies in Singapore.”
The SDIA signatories include major industry players such as AirTrunk, Digital Realty, EdgeConneX, Equinix, Global Switch, Microsoft, NTT Data, Princeton Digital Group, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, Stack Infrastructure, and Vantage Data Centers.