Data centers must set standards for net zero commitments
Powering the future
· TechRadarNews By Jenny Gerson published 15 October 2024
Climate change is top of mind across the world. Carbon emissions—acting as greenhouse gases—trap the sun’s heat, which leads to global warming. The world now warms faster than at any point in recorded history. As the warmer temperatures change weather patterns, they pose risks to humans.
The fossil fuels that generate carbon emissions—coal, oil, and gas—contribute significantly to climate change. They account for more than 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
Because data centers consume so much power from fossil fuels—driven by the need to host high-performance IT infrastructures for customers—they produce 2 percent of the carbon emissions in the U.S.
It’s time for the industry to step up.
Jenny Gerson
Head of sustainability at DataBank.
Leading the Way to Sustain Natural Resources
Many data center providers already lead the way in contributing positively to sustaining the world’s natural resources. They move even faster than any standard might require.
For example, several providers strive for net zero carbon emissions. This covers three scopes as established by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol created by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development:
Scope 1—direct emissions produced onsite
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