Talking about the carbon footprint

webitpr

Research commissioned by Fujitsu Services indicates that 76% of IT managers believe they should still account for the carbon impact of the IT operations they have outsourced.

Research undertaken among 100 chief information officers of UK companies employing more than 1000 people reveals that an overwhelming majority believe that the carbon footprint of outsourced IT operations should still count towards the overall footprint of their organisation.* However, Fujitsu Services, a major provider of IT outsourcing to public and private sector organisations who commissioned the research, believes that this could lead to an over-statement of total carbon emissions.

Fujitsu believes that many senior decision makers responsible for IT are in the dark as to the extent and responsibility for carbon emissions from IT operations. Whilst approximately three quarters (76%) feel that the emissions from outsourced IT operations should still count as part of their carbon footprint, almost a quarter (24%), believe the opposite and expect the contracting company to become responsible. Current advice on how and what to include in carbon footprint calculations can be confusing and this research suggests that many are erring on the side of caution, preferring to double-count rather than risk understating environmental impact.

An interesting an article. These kind of issues are going to arise ever more as we start having to declare our organizations’ carbon footprint, the carbon footprint of the data center, the desktops, printers and IT for example. Do check it out.

If I consume a service from a business, do I not expect that business to account for its’ organizational carbon footprint, it’s environmental policies and corporate social responsibilities? At the same time, do I not want to know what the carbon cost is of the transaction? At the same time, am I prepared to pay the ‘true cost’ of my data center?  Once all costs are transparent, what is the value of that service to me as a business?