Building a Sustainable Future: Decarbonizing IT Operations in India
Sustainable IT Operations: Enabling a Greener Future
India's booming digital landscape comes with an environmental cost. The Hitachi Vantara Exchange event in Udaipur, India, explored how sustainable IT practices, such as data center decarbonization, can lower emissions and meet climate goals. Here, we delve into a strategic roadmap for implementation, including emissions analysis and partnerships with sustainability experts.
The pursuit of sustainability is cemented as a crucial imperative for businesses worldwide. As societies grapple with environmental challenges, organizations are increasingly called upon to align their operations with principles of sustainability.
The Hitachi Vantara Exchange event in India brought together thought leaders across various industries, where we delved into the significance of sustainable IT operations, examined the multifaceted benefits they offer, and outlined a strategic approach to implementation. Watch Our Video on Sustainability from Exchange India.
The exponential growth in digital services has been an integral part of India’s growth story. In 2023 alone, India recorded 114 billion digital payment transactions. This robust growth in IT infrastructure, IT services, and underlying data center facilities is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, taking organisations away from meeting sustainability objectives. As the country strives to meet its sustainability goals, it becomes imperative for businesses to embrace sustainable practices, particularly within the realm of IT operations.
Let’s get into some of those practices.
Data Center Decarbonisation: Lowering Energy Costs & Environmental Impact
Decarbonisation of data centers can help lower energy costs by reducing the amount of power needed to run operations. By minimizing energy consumption and optimizing resource utilization, organizations can lower operational costs and help to manage the risks associated with climate change, such as disruptions to supply chains, extreme weather events, and regulatory changes.
A survey of global CEOs underscores the growing recognition of sustainability as a strategic priority, with 70% having already set emission reduction goals, and 58% of organisations having started incorporating sustainability objectives into their RFPs when selecting the right key partners. However, realizing the full potential of sustainability requires a comprehensive understanding of emissions sources and a strategic roadmap for implementation of sustainability solutions. Watch Our Webinar: Decarbonizing the Data Center: Making Data Modernization More Sustainable
Beyond Efficiency: A Multifaceted Approach to Lowering Emissions
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in IT operations requires a multifaceted approach targeting three primary scopes of emissions: direct emissions from owned and controlled sources (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity consumption (Scope 2), and all other indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities (Scope 3). To put this in context, enterprise technology contributes approximately 350 to 400 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent gases globally, accounting for about 1 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. This amount is equivalent to the total carbon emitted by the United Kingdom – so it’s a significant contribution.
A nuanced understanding of these emissions sources is essential for devising effective decarbonization strategies in IT operations. By analyzing and addressing emissions across all three scopes, organizations can implement targeted measures to reduce their carbon footprint. This may involve transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, optimizing supply chain logistics, and investing in innovative technologies. Ultimately, by taking a holistic approach to emissions management, IT organizations can not only mitigate their environmental impact but also drive positive change across the industry towards a more sustainable future.
Charting Your Course: Roadmap to Implementing Sustainable IT Practices
The journey towards sustainable IT operations begins with the formation of a robust sustainability strategy, tailored to your organization’s unique objectives and context. To get there entails setting ambitious targets and developing a roadmap encompassing initiatives, partnerships, technologies, and business models. Watch Our Video: Disney & Hitachi Vantara: In Pursuit of a More Sustainable Future
Crucially, organizations must ensure they possess the capabilities, resources, and stakeholder support to execute their sustainability initiatives effectively. To do this may involve leveraging advanced technologies and governance systems to monitor and report progress towards sustainability goals and enable continuous improvement. Partnerships with experienced sustainability technology providers can also play a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of decarbonization.
Hitachi Vantara exemplifies a proactive approach here, offering a holistic framework encompassing power supply, IT infrastructure, applications, cloud strategy, and data stewardship. Through a portfolio of energy-efficient products and data-driven analytics, it’s our goal to empower organizations to achieve industry-leading results in green IT.
Ultimately, sustainable IT operations represent a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and environmentally conscious world. By embracing sustainability as a core value and partnering with experienced providers, businesses can unlock new opportunities for innovation, differentiation, and long-term success. As we embark on this journey towards a greener future, let us leverage the power of data-driven insights and collective action to build a more sustainable world – for generations to come. How Green is your storage? Use our CO2 Estimator Tool.
The Road Ahead: Building a Sustainable Future, Together
The pursuit of a sustainable future demands collective action. By embracing sustainable IT practices, businesses can become environmental leaders, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and long-term success. Together, let's leverage data-driven insights to build a greener future for generations to come.
Ready to embark on your journey towards greener IT? Hitachi Vantara offers a comprehensive sustainability framework and data-driven solutions to empower your organization. Learn more about how eco-friendly infrastructures drive sustainability and cost efficiency for you.
Additional Resources:
