Climate Change and IT: Agile Teams Can Make a Difference

by · January 15, 2024

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Photo by Singkham on Pexels.com

Our environmental challenges

Scientists urge us to be climate-neutral by 2050. In order to reach that goal we must cut carbon emissions by at least 55% in 2030. This leaves us with just a few years to drastically alter our pathway: we will have to cut our carbon emissions at a revolutionary speed.

Every IT team needs to turn the lens on itself and ask: ‘how are we impacting the planet, and what can we do to navigate towards a safe and stable future on this planet?’

IT carbon footprint

On the one hand the IT sector is often seen as a solution, but on the other hand it’s crucial to understand that our industry also has a large (and growing!) footprint. Here are some statistics:

  • Data centers consume approximately between 1 and 2% of global electricity today. According to Harvard Business Review, they could consume as much as 8% by 2030.
  • Researchers estimate that the entire footprint of the IT sector, including device production and life cycle, is about 4% and growing exponentially due to Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. By 2040 it is expected to account for 14% of the world’s carbon footprint.
  • If the Internet were a country, it would be 7th on the list of largest polluters. It uses the same amount of energy as South Africa. If you compare the carbon footprint of the IT industry with that of aviation, the footprint of IT is larger.

Why Agile teams are part of the solution

For the past few years I struggled with this topic and with my own role in it. It felt like a far too big a problem to have a serious positive impact on, but also a far too big a problem to ignore.

Until I realized the following. We as Scrum Masters, Developers, Product Owners, Agile Coaches: we are everywhere! In all the big companies around the globe. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we started a movement of teams that are all determined to reduce our carbon footprint? Together we can really make a change. We as Agile and IT teams, we can make a huge impact.

We can use agility to tackle our planetary challenges. As a Scrum Master I help my teams take small steps towards a big goal. Be ambitious AND start with one first step. The same goes for climate change. Become aware of your climate impact and start with the first step to reduce your negative impact.

Make it measurable. A lot of unknowns? No problem, just start. No trustworthy metrics? Learn from the insights of your first step. Iterate. Complex, wicked problems? That’s what Agile was invented for. Experiment, test your hypothesis, adjust.

Start with the end in mind. What is the end goal?

A healthy ecosystem on earth in which we (and the generations after us) can live and thrive.

The big goal for now?

Cut our carbon emissions with (at least!) 55% by 2030.

So engage your teams and share the vision! Let’s use our Agile knowledge and experience for the greater good of our planet.

Reducing your IT carbon footprint

IT teams have the power to create a significantly more sustainable IT landscape. Together, with all our small steps combined, we can make a change. If you want to determine your first steps in reducing your IT carbon footprint, the in-company workshop ‘The Planet as Our Stakeholder’ can be helpful.

Below you find some links with inspiration and resources to get you started.

Grow Green – Getting Started

Measuring Carbon Footprint

For more information about the carbon footprint of IT:

If you need help or a sparring partner, don’t hesitate to DM me on Linkedin.

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