Microsoft & Kyndryl: More Tech Needed for Sustainability
A study by Kyndryl and Microsoft shows a significant gap between sustainability intentions and actions within organisations globally.
Despite 84% of companies acknowledging the critical importance of sustainability, only 21% are harnessing technology to minimise their ecological footprints.
“As the world faces increasing climate-related challenges, businesses are under pressure to act decisively and place sustainability at the forefront – and this year’s Global Sustainability Barometer study highlights that organisations must move from intent to collective action to drive change,” says Faith Taylor, Chief Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Officer at Kyndryl.
“By integrating sustainability into a company’s business strategy, processes and systems, organisations can maximise the value of their people and technology to achieve internal goals and deliver positive impact.”
The Global Sustainability Barometer
The Global Sustainability Barometer is a study released by Kyndryl, commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Ecosystm.
It investigates how AI, data and strategic planning interlink to support sustainability objectives.
More data and stringent sustainability regulations emerge every year, assigning technology an increasingly pivotal role in addressing environmental issues.
Matthew Sekol, a Sustainability Global Black Belt at Microsoft, says: “Companies can gain the insights needed to deliver on their commitments and drive resilience by integrating sustainability data with operational and financial data.
"Using traditional data analytics and robust AI tooling can reshape operational efficiencies and foster sustainable innovations.”
The second edition of the Barometer engaged 1,355 global sustainability leaders from 20 countries across nine industry sectors, gathering their thoughts on the sustainability-technology nexus between August and September 2024.
How are organisations using technology for sustainability?
Between 2023 and 2024, 38% of organisations increased their sustainability targets and implementation efforts.
While more than half of the businesses incorporate their sustainability goals into existing reporting processes, only 19% fully leverage data for strategic planning.
AI's potential to alter sustainability trajectories is recognised by more than half of the leaders surveyed.
However, a majority are still primarily focusing on utilising historical data for reporting purposes.
Despite its potential, the environmental toll of AI is substantial — by 2028, it's predicted to consume more energy than all of Iceland.
Alarmingly, just 35% of the organisations surveyed are considering the energy implications of their AI deployments.
Enhancing the role of tech in sustainability
To bridge this significant gap, the study proposes four strategies to integrate technology more effectively into sustainability efforts:
- Position technology at the core of strategic planning to transform sustainability goals into actionable agendas
- Use AI for scenario planning and climate risk mitigation to foster a comprehensive approach
- Employ data to redefine business operations for greater environmental impact understanding
- Cultivate a collective responsibility culture across functional teams to elevate sustainability as a core business priority.
“As organisations increasingly recognise sustainability as a strategic imperative, we're witnessing a surge of innovation and collaboration,” says Ullrich Loeffler, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecosystm.
“AI is at the forefront of this movement, empowering businesses to optimise resource consumption, reduce waste and drive positive environmental impact.”
“By uniting our efforts and leveraging technology, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.”
Receive the next edition of ClimateTech Digital by signing up for its newsletter.
As part of this portfolio, make sure you check out Sustainability Magazine and Energy Digital and also sign up to our global conference series - Sustainability LIVE.
ClimateTech Digital is a BizClik brand