Simon Perry

Working life in 2015. Sustainability sustained by ICT

Individuals and businesses are adapting as their awareness of climate change grows, and we are at just at the beginning of a journey that will be both far-reaching and also unfold with a growing sense of urgency. Pressure will come to business operations to adapt from several fronts; the expectations of customers, partners and employees to support reduced CO2 emission loads; the potential regulatory requirements of the EU and global economic operational landscape; and the need to reduce cost structures as the full economic impact of environmental charge-back models, including carbon trading is implemented. As these regulatory, governance, competitive, and compliance aspects of business are implemented and evolve significant pressure will mount to reduce the fully loaded carbon footprint of private and public sector operations. Central to those changes will be significant efforts to reduce emissions resulting from ordinary commuting and extra-ordinary business travel. Clearly we will need to find alternatives as to simply stop all commuting and travel is not an acceptable step. While a lot of focus on so-called 'GreenIT' efforts are today looking toward reducing the environmental footprint of data centre operations, this situation again is an example where ICT may play an enabling and transforming role in business and societal operations. Technologies such as advanced telecommuting, video conferencing, and virtual reality based may rise to new importance and step into the role of replacing physical presence with virtual presence in support of future GRC challenges. With challenge comes opportunity, and with opportunity comes more challenges to be overcome, looking toward a sustainable future.