COP29 and the Future of Green Software: Strategies for a Sustainable Digital Era

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from the 11th-22nd of November, 2024. As a major gathering for global leaders and stakeholders, COP29 aims to drive forward solutions for a more sustainable world.

COP29's Digitalisation Focus

On November 16th, COP29 will feature the first-ever Digitalisation Day, showcasing how digital innovation can accelerate climate solutions. This event builds on the Green Digital Action initiative launched at COP 28 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and over 40 partners, aiming to standardise and promote digital climate action.

Here, we explore how digital evolution and ecological responsibility intersect - and how Green IT and Green Software can pave the way for a greener business future.

Digital Transformation’s Energy Impact: What Businesses Must Know

Digital transformation has driven efficiency and reduced waste across industries.

Yet the rising tide of digitalisation comes with significant energy costs.

By 2030, data centres alone may consume about 10% of global electricity. Expanding this to include the broader digital ecosystem (telecommunications, internet infrastructure, smart devices), digital energy demand could rise to nearly one third of global electricity. AI’s growing application only compounds this issue, owing to its heavy computational load.

The need for energy-efficient practices has never been more critical. Many companies, especially those in data-heavy industries, are aware of direct energy use, but indirect emissions - like those tied to cloud services - often go overlooked.

How to Make Your IT and Software Environmentally Friendly: Practical Strategies

Key Concepts: What Makes IT and Software ‘Green’?

Green IT and Green Software principles focus on minimising the environmental impact of digital systems. Green IT promotes thoughtful choices in software and IT management that lessen carbon footprints and reduce waste.

Here are a few ways to integrate Green IT principles into your business:

1. Prioritise Energy Efficiency in Software

Efficient software design is key. Streamlined, well-optimised software requires fewer computational resources, which directly reduces energy use. By consolidating business data into a single platform, you reduce the amount of computation (and therefore energy) needed to generate reports and insights. For businesses, this translates into a reduced environmental footprint.

2. Optimise Digital Resources

Embrace lean software. Efficient, user-focused software avoids unnecessary features that drain resources, and saves your team time so they can get back to making an impact.

Example: Conduct regular reviews of software usage to ensure it's still relevant and necessary. Opt for platforms that adapt to your needs without creating excess digital infrastructure - think of it as "digital decluttering" for sustainability.

3. Extend Hardware Lifespans

Think twice before upgrading your current hardware, such as laptops, servers, and other devices. The energy used to produce new hardware can be significant, so extending the lifespan of your current devices is a sustainable choice, and chances are, your devices are more capable than you think. Using web-based applications can also reduce the need for high-performance hardware, cutting IT costs and energy consumption.

4. Build Awareness and Culture Around Green IT

Creating a culture of Green IT within your team starts with education and access to resources. Many organisations champion these practices by joining initiatives like the Green Digital Action initiative, which provides useful insights and a collaborative community.

Resource: The Green Digital Action initiative offers actionable guidance, see Green Software Foundation.

How Kinabase Innovates for a Greener Digital Future

Innovation is one of our key founding principles. Here’s how we’re making a difference:

1. Cloud Optimisation: We use Microsoft Azure, a platform dedicated to becoming carbon negative by 2030. Azure’s energy-efficient infrastructure helps us keep our cloud services sustainable, and hosting all servers and databases in the UK optimises our energy usage.
2. Energy-Aware Coding: Our development team prioritises energy-efficient, clean code to minimise computational loads and reduce energy use. We integrate responsible AI practices, using energy-intensive models only where necessary.
3. Smart Testing Protocols: Software testing can consume a lot of energy. Kinabase uses intelligent, automated strategies to ensure coverage while reducing reruns and adjustments. This approach minimises long-term energy usage while maintaining software quality.

We’re exploring even more green initiatives. From renewable energy tracking features to integrated carbon footprint analytics, we’re dedicated to providing our clients with tools that empower sustainable digital practices.

Final Thoughts: The Business Case for Green Digital Practices

Digital technologies offer unparalleled opportunities for boosting efficiency and cutting waste. But addressing the environmental impact of IT and software remains crucial. As we await COP29's outcomes, including the Declaration on Green Digital Action, Kinabase is committed to driving innovation for a sustainable digital era.

Have you thought about tracking your carbon emissions on Kinabase? Interested in learning more about our sustainable practices or how we can help your business make a difference? Get in touch today.

Sources

Green IT and Green Software, Roberto Verdecchia, Patricia Lago, Christof Ebert et. al., IEEE Software, 38.6 (November 2021), 7-15.

United Nations Climate Change, UN Climate Change Conference Baku - November 2024, https://unfccc.int/cop29.

Green Digital Action, UN Climate Change Conference 2024 Baku, Azerbaijan, https://www.itu.int/initiatives/green-digital-action/events/cop29/.

Green Software Foundation, https://greensoftware.foundation/.

Climate Action, https://www.climateaction.org/news/what-to-expect-at-cop29-the-role-of-digitalisation-for-climate-action.

BCG, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/why-your-organization-needs-sustainable-software.