The government wants to cut public sector carbon emissions by
80% by 2050, and technology will play a massive role in this,
according to recent research.
IT is responsible for up to a fifth of the UK government's
carbon emissions - 460,000 tonnes a year - but it could reduce
emissions by even more than a fifth if it's used properly.
A voluntary
Green
ICT Delivery Group has been set up by the Cabinet Office's CIO
Council to inform public sector IT staff about technology's green
potential. But the group has a long way to go before it gets to
where it needs to be.
Last year there was a 3% increase in government emissions caused
by electricity use, and IT was pinpointed as one of the main
reasons for this.
A survey of Computer Weekly readers, commissioned by Cisco and
carried out by environmental charity Global Action Plan, showed
many public sector IT managers are unaware of the government's
targets, or unsure of their ability to meet them.
Over 60% of respondents didn't know about the Greening IT
Strategy, and 67% of those that did were said they were "concerned"
that the targets would be difficult to achieve.
Trewin Restorick, director of Global Action Plan, said there are
examples of good practice. He said, "There are shining examples of
very good initiatives. But the public sector tends to move at a
glacial pace. The inconsistencies that are present suggest we need
stronger drivers - both carrots and sticks."
The research recommended that CIOs and IT directors be
responsible for paying for their own electricity bill, so they are
aware of how much they're using. It recommended that IT departments
be required to calculate their own carbon footprints, that
organisations set internal green targets, and that departments are
aware of the percentage of their server utilisation.
IT managers said they need more support from government, in the
form of clearer evidence of the benefits of green IT to boost
business cases and an investment fund for initiatives.
Catalina McGregor, chair of the Green IT Delivery Group, said
there is momentum behind the latest green drive.
"The number of people who are willing and happy to look at it
has been unbelievable," she said. "A new report will come out at
the end of August, which will show which departments are doing well
and which are not. CIOs will have to put forward the reasons why if
their department is not doing well."