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FoES march in Edinburgh against AI data centres

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom · Nov 14, 2026

Is it still on?

SOONAnnounced for Nov 14. Not started yet.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Protesters oppose the construction of multiple hyperscale AI data centres across Scotland due to energy, water, and climate concerns.
What they want
Demonstrators demand a proper public consultation on AI data centre plans before any developers can force them through.
What changed
Nov 14: A national march is scheduled to take place down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • A proper public consultation on AI data centre plans
  • Protection of public resources under democratic control

Organised by: Friends of the Earth Scotland, Action to Protect Rural Scotland, Edinburgh Trades Union Council

What authorities say

The Scottish Government pledged to issue new guidance addressing concerns by the end of the year. Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad stated that the government wants communities to have confidence in water usage, community benefits, and proper project locations and energy use.12

The full story

Organised by Friends of the Earth Scotland alongside numerous other groups and charities, a national demonstration is scheduled in Edinburgh on November 14, 2026, to protest against the proposed construction of hyperscale AI data centres in Scotland. Participants plan to march down the Royal Mile to a rally outside the Scottish Parliament. Campaigners state that developers intend to build numerous large data centres for big tech companies, warning that these facilities will consume massive amounts of electricity and water while threatening energy bills, health, communities, climate, and nature. Protesters demand that the Scottish Government conduct a proper public consultation before approving data centre projects. In response, the Scottish Government previously pledged to issue new guidance addressing concerns by the end of the year, though it previously signalled it did not plan to hold a public consultation on the new guidance.

Timeline

  1. Campaigners stated that more than 75 organisations are set to participate in the protest against AI data centres.2

  2. Friends of the Earth Scotland announced a national march against hyperscale data centres in Edinburgh for November 14.1

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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