A UN University study found Hong Kong data centres produce carbon emissions 43% above the global average per kilowatt-hour. The city's grid relies on 67% fossil fuels and only 1% renewables. The report ranks Hong Kong among the top 20 data centre hubs worldwide and calls for disclosure standards covering carbon, water, and land footprints of AI operations. Hong Kong plans to expand from 61 to 81 data centres by 2030, including the Sandy Ridge supercomputing hub. Officials said new mega data centres will need to meet a PUE cap of 1.25, but existing centres are exempt due to local climate constraints. The study highlights the tension between AI growth and climate targets in carbon-intensive grids.
