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Sustainability and IT: Challenges and Opportunities

Sustainability and IT: Challenges and Opportunities. A Personal Perspective Chris Preist chris@deep-mountain.co.uk. Overview. Science, Economics and Legislation: Sustainability as a Business Driver Carbon Footprinting and LCA: The need for, and perils of, Quantification Action Research:

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Sustainability and IT: Challenges and Opportunities

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  1. Sustainability and IT:Challenges and Opportunities A Personal Perspective Chris Preist chris@deep-mountain.co.uk

  2. Overview • Science, Economics and Legislation: Sustainability as a Business Driver • Carbon Footprinting and LCA: The need for, and perils of, Quantification • Action Research: Skilful Means, Care of the Soul

  3. The big constraints…. Supply Demand

  4. ’ ’ ‘ ‘ …environmental issues aren't a fad, climate change isn't just an emergency; like globalisation it is a force that will shape and reshape the business landscape for decades to come. (Thomas A. Stewart, editor of the Harvard Business Review)

  5. Driving Business….? • Legislative Standards (EuP directive) • Customer Demand (EnergyStar) • Price Signals (Energy prices) • Market-based policy (Cap-and-Trade) • Reputational (Carbon Disclosure) • Governmental Dialog (IT & EE agenda) • Staff/Exec Engagement (Murdoch) A relatively weak, but non-zero, driver.

  6. Eco-Efficiency Vs Sustainable Transformation

  7. Quantification A guess should at least be educated…. LCA and Carbon footprinting are valuable tools for looking at risks and opportunities in Business Models.

  8. The Laptop Business • Pressure for low-carbon IT • Significantly improved efficiency • LCA shows that in a modern laptop, two factors dominate; • Pattern of Usage • Embodied Energy • This has strategic consequences on the business model.

  9. Commercial Print Newspapers Catalogues Directories Directories Paper: 53 Trillion A4 Pages World Wide in 2010 • 1.4 million pages per second • Many sectors are wasteful: • Newspapers < 20% unsold • Magazines < 50% unsold • Books < 30% unsold • At least 40 million tonnes of unnecessary GHG emissions by Newspapers, Magazines and Books alone. 1.3 tonnes per second Other Marketing Packaging OfficePrinting Magazines Books Information Other 9 3 November 2014

  10. The Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness (Paul Shabajee) Uncertainty in LCAs is significant – - ‘Average’ data - Variation in user behaviour Expose the workings behind the headlines

  11. The Systemic Impact of IT • An IT solution can change behaviour, practice and even societal organisation. • E.g Digital Photography • Just because it is difficult to consider, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try….

  12. Action Research Reflective awareness of one’s ‘inner life’ and the way one engages with the ‘world around us’.

  13. Skilful Means Appropriate ‘stories’ Building a subculture

  14. Care of the Soul Denial, Displacement, Despair, Depression Urgency, Ambition, Drive, Burnout Finding ‘space’ from which action can emerge Connecting with a supportive community

  15. Summary • Understanding ‘the big picture’ and the constraints within which we must live. • Rigorous analysis of the systems we attempt to transform – but with openness about the limitations. • Finding ways to influence the organisations we are in. • Carrying the ‘burden’ joyfully.

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