DC Climate Week highlights data center demands and challenges for science

The second annual DC Climate Week took place April 20-26, and in this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast we're exploring two key themes that are front and center in Washington, DC: the proliferation of data centers, and diminished federal support for science and research. All Things Sustainable was the official podcast of DC Climate Week and in today's episode we sit down with some of the week's speakers to unpack the climate implications of both topics. DC is where federal regulations and laws are passed, and DC Climate Week co-founder C'pher Gresham explains how developments in the nation's capital often reverberate across the US and globally. We talk with Brandon Jones, President of the American Geophysical Union, a professional society for earth and space scientists. He says waning support for science is causing major ripple effects throughout society that will require courage, connection and creativity to solve. "We have to rethink how we're going to engage to make sure we have the future that we want and we need," Brandon says. AI and data center demand were another big area of focus during DC Climate Week. The Northern Virginia communities around DC are home to rapid data center growth, and Udit Garg tells us how this could impact the energy transition. Udit is Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Arcadia, a global utility data and energy solutions platform. He says the current process for permitting energy and electric transmission infrastructure needs to be fixed to allow projects to come online faster to meet growing energy demand. And we speak to Xan Fishman, Vice President of the Energy Program at DC-based think tank the Bipartisan Policy Center. Xan says energy permitting reform is one area that could garner bipartisan support in Congress. Further listening: California's biggest utility talks decarbonization, climate adaptation and AI energy demands The rise of billion-dollar US weather and climate disasters | S&P Global All Things Sustainable is the official podcast of the inaugural Climate Week Zurich May 4-9. Learn more here: Climate week Zurich 2026 : Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity | S&P Global Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

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DC Climate Week highlights data center demands and challenges for science is an episode from ESG Insider: A podcast from S&P Global by S&P Global.

This episode is 27:51 long.

This episode was published on May 1, 2026.

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