Join NatureFinance and the Open Government Partnership for a timely discussion on how governments can better govern the rapid expansion of data centers in the age of artificial intelligence.
As AI accelerates, so too does the growth of resource-intensive data centers. Governments are increasingly under pressure to balance economic opportunity with environmental sustainability, community impacts, and fiscal responsibility. Yet critical decisions, such as siting, permitting, and contracting, are often made before their full consequences are understood.
Event details
📅 Tuesday, 21 April 2026
⏰ 16:00 – 17:15 CEST
🌐 Online | Open to the public
👉 Register: bit.ly/data-center-21-apr
About the session
This webinar brings together government officials, civil society representatives, and finance professionals who are grappling with data center governance in real time.
The session will explore how greater transparency, combined with practical governance tools, can enable policymakers and communities to shape outcomes in the public interest. It will cover:
• Economic trade-offs: Understand the fiscal, environmental, and social considerations governments face when attracting data center investment
• International frameworks: Learn how initiatives such as UNEP guidelines and TNFD recommendations are shaping nature-related disclosures in the technology sector
• Case studies: Hear directly from jurisdictions experimenting with data center siting, permitting, and governance approaches
• Practical tools: Explore solutions including improved impact assessments, infrastructure accounting, contracting practices, and innovative financing mechanisms
Confirmed speakers include:
• Julie McCarthy, CEO, NatureFinance
• Joseph Foti, Principal Advisor of Emerging Issues, Open Government Partnership
• Hélène Costa de Beauregard, Project Director, French Ministry of Ecological Transition
• Patrick Blake, Programme Officer, Global Climate Action Unit, Climate Change Division, UN Environment Programme
• Emily McKenzie, Technical Director, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures Secretariat
• TBC, Kaduna State Government
This webinar will highlight how governments can move beyond transparency alone and deploy concrete policy and financial tools to ensure data center development delivers shared value.
Join the discussion on how to turn these approaches into real-world practice.
