The carbon footprint of the ICT sector may surpass that of the aviation industry, reports Global Action Plan. Logo copyright: Global Action Plan.

A research report entitled ‘An Inefficient Truth’ has suggested that the ICT sector in the UK has a carbon footprint similar to the aviation industry and its skyrocketing growth means it will soon surpass it.

The survey was produced by Global Action Plan (GAP) on behalf of the Environmental IT Leadership Team (EILT) – a unique gathering of major ICT users from a range of different sectors who are committed to taking practical action to cut carbon dioxide emissions. 

Trewin Restorick, Director of Global Action Plan and Chair of the EILT, commented: “ICT equipment currently accounts for 3-4% of the world’s carbon emissions, and 10% of the UK’s energy bill.”

Worryingly, 86% of ICT departments surveyed for the report do not know the carbon footprint of their activities and less than 20% even see their energy bills. The growth in carbon emissions from the sector is being exacerbated by Government policies requiring higher levels of data to be stored.

The survey, which was completed by CIOs, IT directors and senior decision makers from 120 UK enterprises, found that over 60% of respondents consider time pressures and cost the biggest barriers to adopting sustainable ICT policies, and believe that recognised standards and tax allowances would provide the most valuable support towards reducing ICT’s contribution to the UK’s carbon emissions.

Restorick added: “The survey illustrates that ICT departments have been slow off the mark to address their carbon footprint. Awareness is now growing but to turn this into action, ICT departments need help. They need vendors to give them better information rather than selling green froth, they need Government policies to become more supportive and less contradictory, and they need more support from within their organisations.”