Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA) Announces Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Agreement (SDIA)

• The Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA) today announced the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Agreement (SDIA), a landmark regional initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in the data center sector. The goal is to ensure cross-sector alignment, demonstrate leadership, and promote industry-led solutions to address sustainability challenges.

• The SDIA establishes the first common baseline in APAC for credible, effective, and future-oriented industry goals, reflecting the diversity of climate, environment, energy, and water resources across Asia-Pacific markets.

• It sets common voluntary targets in four key sustainability areas—energy efficiency, use of clean energy, water resource utilization, and the circular economy—to promote a region-wide transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient digital infrastructure.

Singapore, March 26, 2026 – The Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA) today, in conjunction with International Data Center Day, announced the "Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Agreement (SDIA)," a landmark Asia-Pacific (APAC) wide initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in the data center industry.

The SDIA establishes the first common baseline in APAC for credible, effective, and future-oriented industry commitments, reflecting a shared commitment to the growth of sustainable digital infrastructure while considering the diverse circumstances of each market in the region.

Additionally, the SDIA sets voluntary targets in the following four key sustainability areas to support the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient digital infrastructure in APAC:

• Energy Efficiency

• Use of Clean Energy

• Water Resource Utilization

• Circular Economy

  The agreement is intended to be a voluntary and non-binding framework that complements, rather than replaces, national and regional regulations. It also serves as a platform for ongoing collaboration and dialogue between industry and government, and is designed as a "living framework" that will be continuously updated and evolved, with the expectation that goals and commitments will be reviewed in the future.

Jeremy Deutsch, Chairman of the APDCA, stated:

"The SDIA demonstrates the industry's unified commitment to balancing digital transformation and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region. This agreement establishes the first common baseline for industry commitments across APAC and serves as a systematic platform to facilitate dialogue between government and industry for further progress. The data center industry will work with policymakers and other stakeholders to achieve a sustainable digital and AI transformation in the region."

Anuar Fariz Fadzi, CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), praised the initiative as extremely timely as APAC accelerates its digital and AI growth, commenting:

"The SDIA reflects the region's commitment to balancing the progress of digital transformation and sustainability. As Malaysia aims to become an AI nation by 2030, the role of sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient digital infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. Against the backdrop of growing demand for digital infrastructure due to the expansion of technologies like cloud and AI, such collaborative efforts are essential for creating a sustainable and climate-resilient digital ecosystem. MDEC is committed to supporting this transition and continuing to strengthen Malaysia's position as a key digital hub in APAC."

Ms. Eileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore...