Report explores ICT's sustainability impacts

ICT product and service provider Dimension Data has published its first ever annual sustainability report.

The report explores the ways businesses will be affected by global changes such as population growth and climate change, and details how ICT can make a positive impact on sustainability.

The report is part of Dimension Data’s global environmental sustainability program, which launched in 2008.

Dimension Data group CEO Brett Dawson said technology companies must share responsibility for efforts including addressing the root causes of climate change.

“The past 10 years have seen unparalleled changes in how the world communicates, conducts business, and how we go about our daily lives. Technology has been the driving force behind much of this change, and I’m convinced that the near future will bring about new developments that we can’t even dream of today. However, as we innovate, we also need to be responsible,” he said.

In the report, Dimension Data identifies air travel and data centres as its two most significant sources of carbon emissions and outlines the company's targets for reducing its travel and energy requirements.

"The cornerstone of Dimension Data's environmental sustainability strategy is to reduce travel, energy and waste for our clients, our own business and our employees by providing ICT solutions that lower costs, minimise environmental damage and benefit society,” Dawson said.

The report also outlines some examples of projects to help Dimension Data's clients reduce their own energy and water consumption as well as electronic waste generation, through projects including an integrated data centre or the provision of cloud services.

"With over seven billion people now inhabiting our planet, mankind's footprint has never been larger, and we need to learn to tread lightly. Managing our impact on society and the environment is everyone's responsibility, not only that of government or individual leaders. I believe that businesses also have a clear responsibility beyond their financial gains," Dawson said.

Image courtesy of Colleen Lane under CC