Australia's data centres urged to cut emissions, go green

The world's data centre industry was urged to tackle its carbon emissions and enhance its environmental credentials, according to Amy Rushall, Area Vice President for Australia and New Zealand at Pure Storage. 

Rushall noted, "On this World Environment Day, it is timely to remind ourselves how significant the challenge is for Australia's multi-billion dollar data centre industry to play its part in reducing carbon emissions and generally improve its environmental credentials." The anticipated doubling of electricity use by data centres by 2030, driven by energy-intensive artificial intelligence applications, renders the sector a substantial contributor to global carbon emissions. Rushall emphasised the necessity for senior policymakers, company executives, and sustainability teams to focus on this issue, considering Australia's status as a global hub for data centres.

However, a report from Pure Storage revealed a concerning gap in action. Although over 70% of sustainability managers in Australia recognized the importance of sustainability in data centres, only 9% fully considered it in their planning. Furthermore, 59% of these managers lacked sufficient sustainability-related data from data centre service operators. This data, Rushall contends, underscores the need for concerted industry efforts to address environmental impacts.

In response, Pure Storage reaffirms its commitment to sustainability. The company’s technology solutions have aided customers in significantly reducing their data centres' energy requirements — by up to 85% — and physical space by 75%, alongside 50% increased efficiency in material usage. These efforts are part of Pure Storage's broader focus on waste reduction, reusable packaging, and improved manufacturing energy efficiency. Rushall stressed the importance of energy-efficient solutions in shaping a greener future, particularly with the rise of AI and other advanced technologies.

Echoing the call for sustainability, Mohit Joshi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tech Mahindra, underscored the critical importance of environmental stewardship on World Environment Day. Tech Mahindra, he stated, has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. This pledge illustrates the company's dedication to sustainability, leveraging technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain to reduce its carbon footprint and advocate for a global transition to a greener economy.

Joshi highlighted that shifting to renewable energy sources is essential for decarbonisation. Yet, this journey is fraught with challenges — including technological, financial, and regulatory hurdles. Overcoming these obstacles, he noted, requires collective effort and innovative solutions in energy storage, grid integration, and financing models. By 2030, Tech Mahindra aims to rely 90% on renewable energy, ensuring sustainable power for most of its operations. Joshi emphasised that these efforts reflect the company's commitment to sustainable practices and environmental initiatives, fundamentally aiming for a healthier planet for future generations.

Celebrating World Environment Day 2024 under the theme "Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration," the global community has highlighted significant initiatives and commitments to combat desertification, restore degraded lands, and build drought resilience. The official celebrations were hosted by Saudi Arabia, marking only the second time the event has been held in the West Asia region in over 50 years. The region faces severe droughts, expanding deserts, and eroding fertile soils due to rising temperatures.

Record-breaking participation characterised this year’s World Environment Day, with 3,657 events held globally. Activities ranged from high-level forums in Riyadh to various community celebrations spanning continents, drawing millions into the conversation on environmental restoration. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in a special address, highlighted the urgent need for climate action, pointing out that 40% of the world's land is already degraded, impacting half of humanity directly.

On this notable day, several countries announced significant environmental commitments. The Maldives embarked on a 5 Million Tree Project, while Canada reaffirmed its plan to conserve 30% of its land and maritime areas by 2030 and bolster clean energy industries. Brazil, Bangladesh, and Sweden also declared ambitious environmental measures, underlining the global momentum towards sustainability.

Saudi Arabia, in particular, showcased its land restoration initiatives, pledging to plant 50 billion trees through the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. These efforts, complemented by greater funding for private and philanthropic organisations, aim to combat land degradation and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, as noted by Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Saudi Minister for Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Overall, World Environment Day 2024 has spotlighted the urgent need for collective environmental action, emphasising restoration and sustainable practices as key pathways to securing a viable future for the planet.