Malaysia’s push to become a data centre hub could come at a devastating environmental cost, with 14 new facilities set to generate annual carbon emissions equivalent to those of entire countries like Papua New Guinea.

Environmental think-tank RimbaWatch, in a study published yesterday, warned that the country’s data centre boom will increase greenhouse gas emissions by 9.9 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year once all facilities are operational.

To put this staggering figure in perspective...