Australia Tightens AI Data Center Rules, Amazon Funds River Restoration

The Australian government announced a suite of new regulations targeting artificial‑intelligence data centres. All new facilities must achieve carbon‑neutral status by 2030, adhere to stricter energy‑consumption limits tied to AI workloads, undergo mandatory environmental impact assessments, and submit annual performance reports. Incentives are offered for renewable‑energy upgrades and green infrastructure, positioning Australia as a leader in sustainable tech development.

In parallel, Amazon Australia disclosed a 10‑year partnership with the Australian River Restoration Centre to rehabilitate a 14.8‑kilometre stretch of the Coxs River in New South Wales. The project aims to restore roughly 400 million litres of water to the Sydney catchment, remove invasive species, and stabilize riverbanks. The initiative supports Amazon’s broader pledge to return more water than it consumes by 2030 and complements its planned $20 billion investment in Australian data centres through 2029.