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The Next Frontier: Reducing Embodied Carbon in Data Centre Development

Data centres are a rapidly growing and highly material-intensive part of the built environment. While operational energy has traditionally been the focus of decarbonisation efforts, embodied carbon is becoming an increasingly significant part of the sector’s overall climate impact. 

This report brings together research, industry insight and practical experience to examine where embodied carbon sits in data centre delivery today, where the key challenges lie, and what can be done now to reduce it. 

The work was delivered through MECLA in collaboration with the Decarbonising the Building Industry (DBI) initiative at the University of Melbourne. Drawing on desktop research and workshops with more than 70 stakeholders across the Australian data centre supply chain.

About the Report

 The Next Frontier: Reducing Embodied Carbon in Data Centre Delivery focuses on embodied carbon across three core components of data centre construction: 

      • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) systems, which account for the majority whole-of-life embodied emissions in data centres
      • Structure and substructure, including concrete, steel and layout decisions driven by power density and resilience requirements
      • Computational infrastructure, where rapid refresh cycles are AI-driven hardware intensification are reshaping emissions profiles
 
The report explores:
 
      • Where embodied carbon sits within the broader data centre sustainability landscape
      • Current strategies being used to reduce embodied carbon
      • Key barriers related to data availability, procurement, design and supply chains
      • Approaches to measurement, disclosure and Scope 3 accountability
      • Practical recommendations for industry and government

The research was led by Alexi Barnstone (MECLA / Climate KIC Australia) and included desktop research and a series of industry workshops held in late 2025.

Access to the report

Event Recording and Slides​

Launched: 23 April 2026

This report was launched through a MECLA Spotlight event hosted by DBI in Melbourne and online.  You can access the event materials below: 

Event Recording

Event Slides – Alexi Barnstone

Event Slides – Steven Linforth

Event Slides – David Pivac

Questions from Industry

What's Next

Insights from this report and from the event, including participant input captured during the session, will inform MECLA’s consideration of next steps, including potential future working group activity and follow‑on work in this space.

If you’re interested in being part of that work, you can learn more about MECLA membership and onboarding via the website.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the DBI initiative at the University of Melbourne.

MECLA thanks the many industry participants who contributed their time and expertise to workshops and discussions, and extends particular thanks to AWS and AirTrunk for their technical input during the development of this work.

Past Related MECLA Events

Contact

For questions about the report or MECLA’s work in this area, please contact: info@mecla.org.au 

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