ICT creating a greener footprint

As our nation comes to grips with the implications of global warming, technology has the potential to be a major part of the solution to our CO2 challenges.

The ICT industry is leading the way in the fight against climate change, by developing energy-efficient products and clean technologies, by providing useful metrics and information, and also by enabling population decentralisation and large-scale telecommuting.

While the benefits of technology are far-reaching, we must also look for ways to reduce the amount of energy required to keep our technological devices functioning and our potential impact on the environment through e-waste.

Globally, the ICT industry generates two percent of the world's carbon emissions, according to research by Gartner.

Australia's carbon emissions total 522.2 million tons per year. Of that, 7.94 million tons come from ICT use by Australian businesses, according to a study released recently by the Australian Computer Society.

Those emissions are equivalent to those generated by the aviation industry, and come from technology such as PCs, servers, air-conditioning, mobile phones and printers.

So, what is your organisation doing to clear the air?

The AIIA's ICT Sustainable Futures Forum will be held in Victoria on 18 October. For more information visit www.aiiaconference.com.au.