Sustainable IT: Leveraging IT

for Sustainability

Khuloud Odeh, CIO

CHF Internationalkodeh@chfinternational.org

kodeh@gmu.edu

April 21st 2009

SIM Capital Area Chapter, Evening Session

Bethesda, MD

Sustainable Development

• "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World

Commission on Environment and Development 1987, 43, Brundtland)”.

Sustainability Challenges

Funnel Metaphor by Dr Karl-Henrik RobèrtThe natural Step International

4 System conditions violations: The Natural Step Internationalhttp://www.naturalstep.org

Gartner 2008, hype cycle for Emerging technologies

Green IT: Environmentally

Sustainable IT

Sustainability

• Sustainable Development

• Going Green

• CSR

• Triple Bottom Line

• Ecological

• Environmental Stewardship

• Sustainability

• Climate Change

• Pollution

• Resources depletion

• Species extinction

• Poverty and increased gap

between the haves and have not's

• …and the list goes on

Sustainability / Green: Values/ Culture

Sustainable Development: Process

Sustainable ICT

Sustainable ICT

“ the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment, and achieving economic viability and improved system performance and use, while abiding by our socialand ethical responsibilities” (Murugesan, S., Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices article, IEEE, IT professional, February 2008)

Challenges = Opportunities

• To be innovative

• To rethink the status quo

• To strategize

– interlink , inter-operate , inter-connect, inter-relate, and take a whole-systems approach instead of

partial

– Keep the future in mind while living and acting in today (backcast)

– Prioritize what to do in the short-, mid- and long-term

Sustainable ICT

• ICT sector contribution to GHGs is 2% - close to the aviation industry (Gartner)

• Beyond the 2%– Direct (making IT)

– Indirect (using IT)

– Systemic (applying IT)

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) language.

• Forum for the Future - Digital Futures, Digital Europe, Connected report (ICT and sustainable Development)

• WWF and European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) initiative

• Saving The Climate @ The Speed Of Light campaign

Direct Impact – making IT

• 1.83 tons of raw materials

• 240 kilos of fossil fuels, 22 kilos of chemicals and 1,500 kilos of water

• 220 pounds of mine waste to source the gold in a single circuit board around

• The average computer chip requires 45.46 liters of water, used primarily for washing

• Hazardous material

Sources( UN University study 2004; Earthworks Recyclemycellphone.com 2006; Fuchs,C.)

• 3Rs, or maybe 4, or 5: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink and Regulate

Indirect Impact – using IT

• Smart networks, power saving features and designs,

standby

• data center power and cooling, virtualization

• Use of renewable electricity

• Adopting universal standards

Source: Atlantic Consulting and IPU. LCA Study )

Systemic Impact – applying IT

• The biggest win is in applying IT in other sectors( like Buildings, energy, and transport).

• Applying ICT affects the way we live, work, travel, shop, meet and influence policies.

• Leveraging IT for sustainability

Systemic Impact – applying IT

• Improve environmental efficiency: reduce reliance on goods and products, Heat management systems, smart grid, smart buildings and transport (smart2020.org)

• Web 2.0 and social networking empowering communities around the world

• Pervasive computing and the power of connectivity: RFID, real-time information and integrated solutions

• Work: job creation and economic growth, new business models (low carbon economy is a service-base economy), telework

• Transport and Travel: reduce need to travel (tele-presence), traffic monitoring (GPS), efficient freight and smarter more attractive public transportation options

Gartner 2008, Going Green: The CIO’s role in enterprise wide environmental sustainability

Source: Gartner 2009, Impact on priority given to green IT

The Impact of Recession on Green IT: Survey Results

Source: Gartner 2009 Impact on expenditure allocated to green IT projects

Gartner 2009, likelihood of starting green IT initiatives

The ‘Ecological Crisis of Reason’

• Much of what we thought before about how to get along in our human societies (study of economy, political , society) is obsolete today.

• For thousands of years the principal purpose of science was to master Nature, now we are not masters of nature but partners with nature in a mutual survival project.

Source: Val Plumwood, Australian Philosopher