atNorth to discuss biodiversity at data centre COP17

atNorth will take part in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 in Armenia, where it plans to discuss biodiversity in data centre development.

The Nordic data centre operator will share examples from its own sites as debate widens over the environmental effects of digital infrastructure beyond energy use and carbon emissions.

At the conference, atNorth plans to join discussions on how biodiversity can be built into planning, construction and operations. It will draw on work across its Nordic portfolio, including biodiversity monitoring, conservation and replanting, species support projects, heat reuse partnerships and community engagement.

The discussion comes as data centre growth continues across Europe and developers face closer scrutiny from investors, regulators and local communities over land use, resource demands and environmental impact. Biodiversity has become a more visible issue in that debate, particularly for projects involving large sites, new construction and long operating lives.

atNorth operates seven data centres across the Nordics and has several new sites under development in Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It says biodiversity is part of a wider development strategy that also includes restoration work and operational practices.

Wider focus

The business is using the forum to set out practical lessons from its own experience rather than announce a new product or facility. These include site-level monitoring programmes, measures to support local species and projects linking data centre activity with circular resource use through heat reuse.

That reflects a broader shift in the sector. For several years, most public debate around data centres and sustainability has focused on electricity demand, power sourcing and carbon targets. More recently, biodiversity and nature-related risks have begun to feature more prominently in infrastructure planning and investment discussions.

Cora Olsen, Director of Sustainability & Regeneration at atNorth, said the company sees the issue as part of a changing sustainability agenda for digital infrastructure.

"The conversation around sustainable digital infrastructure has traditionally focused on carbon, energy and efficiency. While these remain critical priorities, biodiversity is emerging as another important consideration for operators, investors and policymakers," said Cora Olsen, Director of Sustainability & Regeneration at atNorth.

Olsen said this work is linked to the company's internal development framework for future sites and operations.

"Through the development of our Data Centre Blueprint for the future, we're exploring how biodiversity considerations can be embedded into planning, construction and operations, benefitting local communities while balancing environmental, technical and commercial realities. At COP17, we hope to contribute practical insights to the growing discussion around the role of biodiversity in infrastructure development," Olsen said.

Industry pressure

The move also highlights how operators are trying to show that biodiversity can be addressed through routine project design rather than treated only as a compliance issue. In practice, that can mean earlier ecological assessment, site restoration measures, engagement with nearby communities and changes to how land around facilities is managed.

The commercial context for developers is changing as well. Investors are paying closer attention to environmental reporting standards, while policymakers are weighing how to align infrastructure expansion with wider nature goals. That creates pressure on companies to show measurable approaches rather than broad commitments.

COP17 is expected to focus on progress against the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which set targets for 2030. Against that backdrop, companies attending the gathering are likely to face questions about how environmental goals can be translated into site selection, construction methods and operational decisions.

atNorth says its participation is part of a broader effort to shape a formal nature strategy in line with evolving international biodiversity frameworks. The company is also a signatory to the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact and a participant in the UN Global Compact.

Justice Selorm Nutakor, Sustainability & Regeneration Manager at atNorth, will lead the company's contribution in a panel discussion on strategic and practical biodiversity work at data centres, covering the full development lifecycle from planning and design to construction and ongoing operations.