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Artificial intelligence is one of the most consequential investment themes of our era and data centers are its physical backbone. Behind the promise of AI lies a rapidly expanding environmental footprint including soaring energy demand, significant water consumption, and real impacts on the communities where these facilities are built and operated.
To help investors make sense of it all, Nuveen and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have joined forces to produce 'Decoding data centers: Sustainability due diligence across the value chain', a comprehensive, science-grounded guide designed to help investors ask smarter questions, manage material risks, and elevate expectations across the AI ecosystem.
What’s in the report
- 75+ investor engagement questions for tech companies, utilities, chip manufacturers and more
- Emerging approaches for managing data center energy, water and local impacts
- An overview of existing metrics & disclosures
- Asset class-specific considerations for engagement
About the collaboration
Environmental Defense Fund is one of the world's leading environmental organizations, bringing science-based insight to some of the most complex environmental challenges facing investors, businesses, and communities today.
Together, Nuveen and EDF offer a distinct perspective that combines investment expertise with environmental science to help the investor ecosystem navigate the data center boom with eyes wide open.
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Important information on risk
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investments carry a certain degree of risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there is no assurance that an investment will provide positive performance over any period of time. Certain products and services may not be available to all entities or persons. There is no guarantee that investment objectives will be achieved.
Responsible investing incorporates Environmental Social Governance (ESG) factors that may affect exposure to issuers, sectors, industries, limiting the type and number of investment opportunities available, which could result in excluding investments that perform well. ESG integration is the consideration of financially material ESG factors in support of portfolio management for actively managed strategies. Financial materiality of ESG factors varies by asset class and investment strategy. Applicability of ESG factors may differ across investment strategies. ESG factors are among many factors considered in evaluating an investment decision, and unless otherwise stated in the relevant offering memorandum or prospectus, do not alter the investment guidelines, strategy or objectives.
