Global Switch commits to APAC-wide Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Accord
On International Data Centre Day 2026, the Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA) unveiled the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Accord (SDIA): the first APAC-wide, industry-led baseline of sustainability commitments for the data centre sector.
Global Switch is one of eleven initial signatories to the Accord, having also supported in its development.
“At Global Switch, we are highly cognisant of our responsibility to protect and enhance the environments and local communities in which we operate, as well as the opportunity we have to bring about a sustainable, responsible and technology-enabled world,” said Terence Teo, Managing Director, Global Switch Singapore.
“We are proud to support the SDIA, and hopeful that it can play a key role in delivering a more sustainable industry across Asia-Pacific.”
Alan Cribbett, Engineering Director, Asia-Pacific at Global Switch, added: “We are always seeking to implement and define best practice in sustainability across data centre design and operations.”
“Having worked closely with the APDCA and other signatories on the SDIA, we’re confident that these voluntary standards can drive meaningful change for our industry – today and in the years to come.”
Designed as a living framework, under continual review, the Accord sets voluntary targets and commitments across four critical sustainability areas. These include:
Energy efficiency
By 1 January 2027, new data centres operating at 50% utilisation or higher will achieve a regional average annualised operating power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.4.
By 1 January 2035, existing data centres operating at 50% utilisation or higher will achieve a regional average annual operating PUE of 1.45 in tropical climates and 1.35 in temperate climates (as classified under the Köppen system).
Clean energy
Data centre operators will achieve 100% carbon free and renewable energy coverage by 31 December 2030.
Water use
By 1 January 2030, data centre operators will achieve a regional average annualised operating water usage effectiveness (WUE) of 1.8-2.0.
Data centre operators will assess local water stress and implement water management plans that consider the present and future water needs data centres and their surrounding communities.
Circular economy
Data centre operators will actively engage with local authorities to identify and support the development of waste heat infrastructure.
They will also conduct Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments (WBLCA) on all new builds, covering the full project lifecycle. Find out more about the SDIA on the APDCA’s website: https://www.apdca.org/sdia