July 2008 the British government launched an ambitious strategy to “green” its ICT use, it is one of the first worldwide with such an ambitious plan. After one the carbon emissions have already been reduced by over 12 000 tonnes.
Indeed the ICT industry has a sizeable carbon footprint with that one of the aviation industry. To make everything possible to minimize it is utilities.
Key public bodies among which the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry for Transport or the Department for Health have accepted to be evaluated in link with ITC on subjects such as energy efficiency, waste management, supplier management, procurement or behaviour.
A survey demonstrates that 83% of the IT managers in the public sectors have this year already taken action to reduce their carbon footprint. – In one year only! Who said the public sector was not flexible and dynamic … in the UK at least.
To reach their target and to improve, several actions have been set up. A few sample among others:
– New specific criteria to select providers
– EU and global standard have been used to specify ways of counting the greenhouse gas emission throughout the entire lifecycle from sourcing raw materials, though to manufacture, distribution, use and disposal.
You will find the detailed survey outcome (very well explained!) of the study on the following link : here
What I like a lot in the approach is that the British government has been able at the same time to implement actions measured on the short term but as well on the long term with deeper impact.