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On the 22nd of October, the Stop Burning Trees Coalition handed in a petition to David Skaith the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, Charlie Jeffery the Vice-Chancellor of the University of York and Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.
This petition calls on them to reject and cut ties with the proposed Drax-powered AI Data Centre. Both the North Yorkshire Council and the University of York have signed up as official partners to this proposal. If it goes ahead, it will result in 2.5 million tonnes of trees being burnt up to 2030, and then 5 million tonnes going forward. This data centre would burn a tree every time it's used.
Approving Drax's dirty data centre proposal will result in more pollution of low-income, Black communities, more forests lost and is the furthest thing from the green future and jobs that we need.
A petition alone won’t cut it. We need to make it clear that allowing an AI data centre powered by Drax’s tree burning is the last thing we need. Take action today ⤵️
Email Charlie Jeffery (VC of the University of York), Liz Kendall MP (Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology) and David Skaith (the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire).
Have you got five more minutes? Sharing on social media is a great way to put pressure on the petition targets and increase awareness about Drax’s disastrous proposal.
Downloadable graphic to share on social media
Powering an AI data centre by burning trees at Drax would be a DISASTER.
@SciTechgovuk listen to the science and say NO to Drax’s dirty data centre.
#StopBurningTrees
Drax’s data centre would ‘burn a tree every time it’s used’.
@SciTechgovuk say NO to Drax’s proposal.
No AI powered by burning forests.
#StopBurningTrees
If the UK is serious about net zero, it must say NO to Drax’s AI data centre.
No more subsidies.
No more greenwash.
No more trees up in smoke.
@SciTechgovuk
#StopBurningTrees
🚨 Why is @UniOfYork supporting an AI data centre powered by Drax — a company burning forests and calling it green?
This isn’t climate leadership. It’s enabling greenwash.
#StopBurningTrees
.@UniOfYork claims to stand for sustainability and innovation. So why align with Drax — a company whose business model relies on forest destruction and pollution? You can't greenwash your way to net zero.
#StopBurningTrees
Drax has received billions in subsidies to burn wood pellets from overseas forests.
Now @UniOfYork wants to help them build an AI data centre?
This is a betrayal of climate science.
#StopBurningTrees
🚨 Why is @NorthYorksCA supporting Drax’s plan to build an AI data centre powered by biomass?
Burning forests to run servers isn’t innovation - it’s greenwashed pollution.
#StopBurningTreees
The North Yorkshire Combined Authority should be investing in genuinely green jobs, not giving credibility to Drax’s climate-wrecking AI ambitions.
We need clean energy, not forest destruction.
#StopBurningTrees
Drax has taken billions in subsidies while increasing emissions.
Now they want @NorthYorksCA to help them expand into AI?
North Yorkshire residents deserve climate action — not green spin.
#StopBurningTrees
The UK’s single biggest carbon emitter, Drax, has proposed building an AI Data Centre in partnership with @uniofyork and @ynymayor @davidskaith. This would be a disaster for forests, emissions and communities.
There’s nothing green about burning forests to power AI.
@scitechgovuk say NO to Drax’s dirty proposal. @ynymayor @davidskaith we want real green jobs, not greenwashed scams. Cut ties with Drax.
#StopBurningTrees
The UK’s single biggest carbon emitter, Drax, has proposed building an AI Data Centre in partnership with @universityofyork and @YNYCombinedAuthority. This would be a disaster for forests, emissions and communities.
There’s nothing green about burning forests to power AI.
@SciTechgovuk say NO to Drax’s dirty proposal.
#StopBurningTrees
Phone number: 020 7219 5023
Action taker: Hi there, my name is… and I’m a member of the public. I'm calling because I’m very concerned about the proposal from Drax to build an AI data centre, especially given the company’s track record and its environmental impact. This would result in millions more tonnes of wood being burnt every year, at the cost of forests, communities and our planet.
I understand that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is likely to be involved in assessing or supporting digital infrastructure like data centres. I want to urge the Department to reject this proposal.
AI data centres use huge amounts of energy, and Drax's energy source is highly controversial — many scientists and climate experts argue that biomass burning is not genuinely renewable or low-carbon.
Supporting an AI facility tied to this kind of energy source would go directly against the UK’s net zero goals and commitments to clean, ethical tech development.
I hope the Department will prioritise sustainability, transparency, and public interest in any decisions related to this.
Staff member: (likely to offer to flag your concerns and may ask you to send an email with your key points - the email e-action will cover this)
Action taker: Thank you very much for speaking to me today and for taking my message. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
If leaving a message or speaking to a receptionist:
Action taker: Please pass on my message. I’m asking the Department to reject the Drax AI data centre proposal due to serious environmental and human rights concerns and the company’s questionable green credentials. AI infrastructure must be powered responsibly, and Drax is not a responsible energy partner. Thank you for your time.
Notes for the Caller:
