Technology

To provide economic stability for future generations, it’s critical to accomplish sustainability. Despite the innovative outlook of the tech industry, the foundations of areas such as software development, coding and data centres are reliant on fossil fuels and emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. As demand for digital and tech-related tools grows exponentially, emissions are also rising.     

In combatting these challenges, experts in the tech industry must look at the opportunities they can present for the sustainability agenda. Natural resource depletion, pollutants and environmental deterioration have changed the flow of technological innovation and prompted the development of sustainable solutions.  

Organisations are now urged to design, manufacture and produce technological products, innovations and services that are both valuable and sustainable. For example, through its Sustainable Exploration Environmental Data Science (SEEDS) programme, CGI conducted real-time analysis of energy use and emissions in data centres, making changes that optimise usage. This solution can reduce energy costs by up to 20% without having to change hardware. 

Technology and innovation have to accomplish social and environmental sustainability, but there is still a significant gap between the potential and the reality. Closing this gap requires upskilling tech professionals to understand the sustainability principles (e.g., green software) and the environmental and social impacts that can be improved. 

Typical jobs found in the technology sector involve software developers, coders, data analysts, data engineers, geospatial analysts, data scientists and application developers. With the development of automation and AI, some areas such as service response will need to adopt transferable skills to grow.   

Some sustainability transferable skills and jobs within the sector:  

• Understanding the context of sustainability within tech development and solutions  
• Data analysis from a sustainability perspective  
• Understanding the environmental impacts of digital and technology use  
• Understanding of the digital foundations of software  
• Sustainability risk mapping (e.g., modern slavery in tech supply chains)  
• Carbon accounting  
• Sustainable IP development  
• Sustainable business development management.

Transition pathways into sustainability often demand that individuals within the industry use their skills to develop and identify opportunities for sustainable solutions.   

The UK is currently experiencing skills gaps in the following digital technologies: 

• Artificial intelligence 
• Data analysis
• Data science 
• Data collection methods 
• Cyber security. 

1. Technology – Department for Business and Trade
2. IEA report – Data Centres and Data Transmission Networks 
3. UN Environment Programme – With new pact, tech companies take on climate change 
4. World Economic Forum: Digital technology can cut global emissions by 15%. Here’s how  
5. CGI Seeds Programme