Determining the impact of information technology greenhouse gas abatement at the Royal Borough of Kingston and Sutton Council

Abstract

Personal computing generates 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions created by the production, use and end of life treatment of devices such as desktop computers and notebooks. Consequently, legislation exists to encourage organisations to procure computers with a low total carbon footprint. The rationale being that both scope 2 use-phase and scope 3 supply chain emissions can be reduced in the long term to contribute to wider reaching abatement targets. However, research finds that current computer product carbon footprint information is both insufficiently available and inconsistent to enable such a strategy. Further research determines barriers including associated incremental cost and perceived impact also prevent the diffusion of sustainable computing strategies. As such, the case study objective is to examine the impact of overcoming such limitations and barriers within an organisation subject to both the new legislation and a holistic climate emergency. By doing so the research question, 'Can meaningful representation of end user computing carbon footprint data drive human behavioural changes to abate greenhouse gas emissions?' is answered. Conducted over 3-years using newly developed methodologies, end user computer related emissions are quantified within a Greater London Council. Presented in a format reflecting the triple bottom line of corporate and social responsibility accounting, values for planet, people and profit are defined using standard emissions units, environmental equivalents, a per capita ratio and monetary savings. Subsequent behavioural changes driven by access to the new information are fourfold. Firstly, adoption of low energy devices reduces annual scope 2 emissions by 15,841 kgCO2e. Secondly, extended device retention periods displaces 515,190 kgCO2e of supply chain emissions. Thirdly, a new technology enabled remote working scheme is justified and adopted, avoiding 4,516,584 kgCO2e of commuting emissions. Finally, new computer procurement assessment practices are adopted to ensure ongoing abatement is maximised and compliance with legislation exceeded. Consequently, the council responds to the climate emergency strategy via the newly proven sustainable end user computing strategy by reducing energy consumption, waste and contributing to sustainable transport. In total, related emissions are reduced by 39% per year whilst saving £228,418 annually. As such, it is proven that the barriers of cost and perceived impact are surmountable and significant emissions abatement achievable when presented with meaningful information that drives behavioural change.