Information and Communications Technology (ICT) generates over 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Add to this people often unnecessarily commuting to access IT (CAIT) systems in offices, this rises to 5%. To remove the annual carbon created by ICT requires a forest the size of Canada and Greenland. That's 3.2 billion acres and a sobering thought.
The United Nations suggests that to achieve immediate climate action that will reduce societal emissions and build a sustainable future, humankind should examine existing technologies as a source of abatement. The idea is that key sustainability strategies such as renewable energy adoption and transport electrification will take decades to diffuse because they require significant infrastructure change at a national level. Therefore, we can play our part in the meantime and avoid GHG emissions by taking a more sustainable approach to both production and consumption of technology.
As a significant source of global GHG emissions and therefore a contributor to global warming, ICT is a perfect example of an existing technology that can make a difference in both the short and long term if we simply approach ICT through a sustainability lens.
ICT carbon footprint is caused by the production of equipment, distribution, use (electricity) and end of life services such as e-waste and recycling. The reason ICT has a high carbon footprint is due to the scale at which these four contributors happen. As an example, demand causes over 665 million personal computers (PCs) and displays to be manufactured every year and there are over 4.2 billion computer users on Earth consuming energy around the clock. Add to this over 10,000 large cloud data centres and employees generating in the region of 1 tCO2e in CAIT emissions annually, it's easy to see how ICT creates such a vast environmental impact.
At a high level, to reduce this by as much as 30% it is no more complex than making four simple changes to the way organisations select and use ICT:
However, my research shows that organisations often struggle to achieve meaningful change when trying to plan for and implement sustainable ICT strategies. Over 40% suggest that doing so consumes too much time and therefore cost to make it worthwhile.
However, using the right tools and having the right skills has already proven that in fact the opposite is true. My research and case studies prove that in reality organisations can plan for and achieve sustainable ICT with relative ease and maximum results that will appeal to all stakeholders. As an example, the Nordic hotel chain Strawberry reduced ICT GHG emissions by 1.5 million kgCO2e and saved over £5 million in procurement and utility costs by adopting sustainable ICT.
If you want to access unique scientific tools that deliver accuracy and specialist skills that will help you to reduce ICT GHG emissions, e-waste, energy consumption, utility and procurement cost by 30% on average you have found the right person.
I can be hired on ad-hoc, short and long term agreements, With 30 years ICT experience, a PhD and MBA in the field of sustainable ICT and a proven track record, you can be sure that our work together will be meaningful and impactful.
Simply click the chat button and we can start our journey together. I look forward to meeting you.
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