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Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and it is essential that we take action to reduce our carbon footprint. Sam Tovey, Sustainability and Social Value Specialist at North (a Techies Go Green Signatory) recently took part in Carbon Literacy training with The Carbon Literacy Project, a UK-based charity that aims to educate and empower trainees to reduce their personal carbon footprints as well as broader change in reducing carbon emissions across the UK. He did this to aid in deepening North’s business’s understanding of sustainability in the technology industry and gain insights into how we can work towards a more sustainable future.

In this blog, Sam gives Techies Green his key takeaways from the training, as well as why other organisations should consider becoming officially credited as Carbon Literate.

Climate science

Knowledge is power, and we must understand exactly how our activities are damaging the environment to fix them. Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and reliance on industrial processes all contribute to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which, in turn, is warming our planet. The devastating effects of global warming are well-documented: rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity.

The technology industry’s responsibility

This may come as a surprise, but the tech industry is collectively responsible for more carbon emissions than the aviation industry, yet the tech industry’s carbon footprint is often glossed over. Networks and data centres account for 68% of emissions in the technology industry, while user devices, such as smartphones and laptops, account for the remaining 32%.

We can all do our part to push for more sustainable practices in the tech industry. These practices can start small, such as reducing energy consumption, using renewable energy sources, and implementing circular economy models.

Each one of us can make a difference by being mindful of our energy use, opting for public transport, walking, or cycling to work, and reducing, reusing, and repurposing waste.

Technological solutions

Technology can play a central role in reducing carbon emissions. Take the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services that we provide at North.

IoT refers to a network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity which enables them to connect and exchange data. IoT has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions by enabling automated and more efficient use of resources such as energy, water, waste, and transportation. For example, IoT-enabled sensors can be used to monitor energy usage in buildings and adjust temperatures, ventilation, and air conditioning systems accordingly. IoT can also be used to optimise transportation systems by enabling real-time tracking and analysis of traffic patterns, leading to more efficient routes and reduced fuel consumption.

At North, we have provided solutions to councils across the UK supporting their smart city ambitions. Some examples of the local authority initiatives we’ve supported include smart waste management systems which optimise waste collection and reduce emissions from transportation, and intelligent lighting systems which use sensors to adjust street lighting based on light levels and movement, significantly reducing energy consumption.

Achieving sustainability goals in the workplace

We are continually working to evaluate and improve our sustainable working practices. At a company level, we have developed an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy to align our operations with sustainable and responsible practices and to keep our team accountable. Every team member must read the policy document to ensure everyone is informed and that we all understand our roles in the policy’s implementation.

We have also developed and implemented an ESG Supplier Survey to measure and report the performance of our top suppliers, evaluating their ESG credentials across a variety of metrics. With the results, we have identified areas of risk and areas for improvement. We are now looking to work collaboratively with our suppliers to improve our sustainability performance across Scope 3 emissions and our supply chain. Armed with the right knowledge, together we can implement sustainable practices at all levels of our businesses. From the individual changes we make to the corporate policies we uphold; the tech industry can begin to bring down its emissions numbers and reduce its carbon impact. We’ll all reap the benefits, and we’ll leave a cleaner, greener, and brighter planet and future for the next generation of techies.

Sam Tovey is a Sustainability and Social Value Specialist at North. With a key focus on incorporating sustainable and responsible practices and values, Sam develops carbon reduction initiatives, supports bid and tender responses, and ensures the implementation of social value plans across the business.

North offers a unique breadth and depth of expertise across the Internet of Things (IoT), networking and connectivity, and safety and security, providing smart integrated technology solutions that transform the way people, organisations, and places work.

If you’d like to learn about North, or even about how you or your company’s sustainability Lead can partake in Carbon Literacy Training, feel free to reach out to Sam Tovey from North on LinkedIn, who is now officially certified as Carbon Literate.

Joining Techies Go Green. 

If you want to learn more about sustainability and what your company can do to become more sustainable, consider joining Techies Go Green. Techies Go Green is a movement dedicated to decarbonising IT and tech-oriented companies through collaborating and sharing knowledge. Membership is open to both companies and individuals within the UK and Ireland. We would love to have you join and to help you in your journey towards sustainability and decarbonisation.