Research shows that the most impact on IT-generated emissions can be found in unexpected places.
Companies and governments looking to combat climate change are turning to tech for help. AI, new technologies, and some promising tech-driven business models have raised hopes for dramatic progress.
While many organizations’ climate goals are lofty, enterprise technology leaders CIOs, chief digital innovation officers (CDIOs), and chief technology officers (CTOs), among others—have not always succeeded at turning climate ambitions into reality. One of the biggest reasons is that hard facts and clear paths of action are scarce. Misconceptions and misinformation have clouded the picture of what CIOs and tech leaders should do.
Mckinsey Digital published an article that sums up where does technology has the biggest impact on reducing emissions.
They divided the technology’s roll into two primar types of activites:
- offense – the use of technology and analytics to cut emissions by reducing (improving operational efficiency), replacing(shifting emission-generating activities to cleaner alternatives), and offsetting (purchasing carbon credits to compensate for unabated emissions).
- defense – the action IT can take to reduce emissions from the enterprise’s technology.
