Welcome to the seventh edition of the Jisc Digital Sustainability Newsletter! Each month we delve into the latest news, trends, and insights at the intersection of technology and environmental sustainability.
If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our DIGITAL-SUSTAINABILITY JiscMail mailing list to receive future editions of the Jisc Digital Sustainability Newsletter direct to your inbox.
Digital Sustainability at Jisc:
Before we dive into the latest digital sustainability news from around the world, we’d like to share some of the initiatives we’re working on at Jisc to promote digital sustainability:
Jisc FE and Skills Digital Sustainability Community Meetup
The Jisc FE and Skills Digital Sustainability Community will host its bi-monthly online meetup on 31st October at 2pm. This session feature insights Ellen Pawley and Isobel Seamer from Jisc’s Governance Team, who will discuss how organisations can reduce emissions by decluttering their cloud storage. Scott Hibberson from Jisc’s Advice Team will also be giving a sneak preview of a new E-Learning module on Digital Sustainability, which will soon be available as a free resource.
To join the session, simply fill out our expression of interest form to become part of the Jisc FE and Skills Digital Sustainability Community.
Jisc to Sponsor the Digital Futures Award at this Year’s Green Gown Awards
We’re excited to announce that Jisc will once again be sponsoring the Digital Futures Award at this year’s Green Gown Awards, set to take place on 13 November at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. This award celebrates the digital transformation within education, research, and skills sectors with a focus on sustainability and equity.
The finalists for the Digital Futures Award this year include:
- Luminate Education Group for their Building Intelligence project.
- University of East London for their Living Lab IoT Platform.
- University of Worcester for their initiative “Change today protect tomorrow – 10 years of digital publishing.”
These projects highlight the innovative ways institutions are using digital technology to drive sustainability.
For more details about the awards and this year’s inspiring finalists, visit the Green Gown Awards website.
Latest Digital Sustainability News:
Now for a roundup of some of the most interesting global digital sustainability news and developments from the last month. Click on the headline to learn more:
Data Center Emissions Likely Far Higher Than Big Tech Reports, Analysis Finds
A Guardian analysis reveals that emissions from data centres owned by Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple could be over 662% higher than reported, casting doubt on their sustainability claims. As AI drives rising energy demands, the gap between official emissions figures and actual carbon footprints continues to grow, raising concerns about transparency in the tech industry’s environmental impact.
Microsoft to Restart Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor for AI Data Centres
Microsoft has signed a deal to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania, investing $1.6 billion to power its AI and cloud data centres with clean energy. The revived reactor will generate 819 MW of electricity exclusively for Microsoft, supporting its goal to run on carbon-free energy by 2025.
University of Glasgow Introduces ‘Environmental Impact of Digi tech’ as Part of Curriculum
The University of Glasgow is the first in the UK to integrate the environmental impact of digital technologies into its computing science curriculum. This initiative aims to equip students with the skills to reduce technology’s carbon footprint and tackle sustainability challenges in the digital world.
New Satellite Tool Maps Fossil Fuel Emissions with Unprecedented Precision
University of Minnesota researchers have developed a satellite-based tool to measure ethane emissions from fossil fuels, revealing that emissions from the Permian Basin are significantly underestimated. This breakthrough enables more accurate tracking of global fossil fuel pollution, providing crucial data to address air quality and climate change.
Norway Reaches Milestone as Electric Cars Surpass Petrol Vehicles
Norway now has more electric cars than petrol-driven vehicles, with 754,303 EVs compared to 753,905 petrol cars, according to the Norwegian Road Federation. The country’s ambitious goal is to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2025, supported by tax breaks and incentives funded by its oil wealth. Currently, nine out of ten new cars sold in Norway are electric, driven by extensive government support and charging infrastructure.
Google Pauses Chilean Data Centre Project Over Water Use Concerns
Google has halted its $200 million data centre project in Chile following a court ruling that raised concerns about the impact on Santiago’s aquifer. The company plans to revise its design to include a less water-intensive cooling system to comply with stricter environmental regulations. This pause is part of Google’s broader effort to address sustainability challenges amid local pushback and climate change considerations.
Solar Farms Boost Pollinators and Biodiversity, Study Finds
Solar farms are increasingly serving as habitats for wildlife, significantly boosting insect and bee populations. A study in Minnesota found insect numbers tripled, and native bee populations increased twentyfold over five years at two solar sites. By planting pollinator-friendly vegetation, these sites help biodiversity and reduce maintenance costs for solar companies, all while supporting environmental sustainability. Experts see these solar meadows as a dual solution to tackle both biodiversity loss and atmospheric pollution.
UN Calls for Human Rights Focus in Mining for Green Energy Minerals
A UN panel has urged that human rights be central to mining for transition minerals like lithium and nickel, essential for renewable energy technologies. It proposed principles to guide fair and sustainable extraction practices, aiming to prevent past mistakes and ensure that benefits reach local communities while minimising environmental and social impacts.
UK Government to Monitor Environmental Impact of Digital Login Service
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is partnering with Greenpixie to track the energy and water usage of its GOV.UK One Login service. By monitoring cloud computing emissions, GDS aims to reduce the environmental impact of its digital infrastructure as usage increases. This initiative supports the adoption of more sustainable practices, like serverless architecture, to improve carbon efficiency in public service technology.
Resource Corner:
Each month, we share a digital sustainability resource that we hope you might find useful. This month, in a Digital Sustainability Newsletter first, we’re featuring two resources, both focused on AI’s environmental impact—one that outlines the key challenges and another that offers practical strategies for addressing them.
The first resource is “The Environmental Impacts of AI” by Sasha Luccioni, Bruna Trevelin, and Margaret Mitchell from Hugging Face. This detailed report explores the full AI lifecycle—from raw material extraction to deployment energy usage. It highlights significant impacts like energy and water consumption, offering insight into the environmental consequences of AI technologies.
The second resource is Green Web Foundation’s report, “Thinking about using AI?” by Hannah Smith and Chris Adams. This guide dives into the practical aspects of mitigating AI’s environmental effects, outlining actionable strategies to integrate sustainability into AI initiatives. It’s a valuable read for those seeking to adapt AI projects with responsible innovation in mind.
Together, these resources offer a comprehensive view of AI’s environmental impact, from the problem itself to practical ways we can modify our AI use to be more sustainable.
Member Highlights:
In our monthly member highlights, we turn the green spotlight onto one of Jisc’s members in FE and HE who are implementing noteworthy digital sustainability initiatives.
This month, we’re excited to feature Activate Learning for their innovative approach to delivering sustainability programmes. These programmes, developed in collaboration with multiple sustainability-focused businesses, are designed to be delivered entirely online, showcasing how digital solutions can effectively support the upskilling of people and businesses in the sustainability sector.
Building on the success of their AoC Beacon Award-winning delivery model, Activate Learning’s programmes use technology to break down geographical barriers, enabling sustainability practitioners to teach students no matter where they are located. This collaboration not only enhances accessibility but also creates a seamless learning experience, made possible by digital innovation. Activate Learning offers a variety of online courses focused exclusively on sustainability and green skills, aimed at empowering individuals and businesses to embed sustainable practices into their operations.
Paul Emberlin from Activate Learning noted, “The real value lies in how these programmes were co-created, marketed, and delivered by different sustainability businesses, emphasising the power of digital solutions in connecting expertise with learners.”
To find out more about Activate Learning’s sustainability programmes, please visit the Activate Learning website.
Digital Sustainability Articles:
Here are a selection of our favourite articles on digital sustainability from the last month. Click on the title link to be redirected to the full article:
Low-Carbon Technologies Need Far Less Mining than Fossil Fuels
Hannah Ritchie’s article for Our World in Data is a highly informative and compelling piece that sheds light on the reduced material and mining requirements of low-carbon energy technologies compared to fossil fuels. It effectively highlights how clean energy solutions like solar, wind, and nuclear power have a significantly lower environmental impact, making a strong case for responsible mining practices in the shift towards a sustainable energy future.
The Green AI Revolution in Data Centres
A positive angle on the use of AI from iTnews, discussing the rise of Green AI in data centres, highlighting how these facilities are using smart energy management to curb rising energy demands and reduce carbon emissions. The article explores how AI is being leveraged to optimise energy use and improve sustainability, aligning the growth of digital infrastructure with environmental goals.
Karen Hao, writing for The Atlantic, critiques Microsoft’s simultaneous pursuit of AI-driven climate innovation and its business deals with fossil-fuel companies. The article highlights the contradiction between Microsoft’s public environmental goals and its behind-the-scenes efforts to expand fossil fuel extraction using AI, questioning the tech giant’s true commitment to sustainability.
The Environmental impact of AI, OpenAI’s new models cost how much?!
Kerry Harrison, writing for Minds & Machines, delves into the environmental impact of AI, exploring the energy and water demands of training AI models and the production of hardware. She offers practical steps to reduce the carbon footprint of AI, emphasizing the importance of using existing models, choosing sustainable cloud providers, and learning to use AI tools efficiently.
Is Sustainable Data Storage a Paradox?
Jon Howes, writing for TechRadarPro, explores whether sustainable data storage is achievable amidst the rising energy demands of cloud computing. He highlights that while data centres consume significant energy, they can also optimise storage capacity and reduce waste, making cloud storage a potentially more sustainable option when transparency and energy-efficient practices are prioritised.
Anne Currie, writing for The New Stack, explores how Kubernetes—a system designed to manage software programs efficiently—can help reduce the tech industry’s environmental impact by adapting to renewable energy sources. She explains that the technology’s design allows it to adjust to fluctuating energy availability, making it a valuable tool for minimizing carbon emissions as we transition away from fossil fuels, provided it’s used effectively to maximize its green potential.
Bringing Digital Sustainability to the Fore
Ian Chew, writing for StarESG, details his journey with Greenie Web, a platform designed to help companies reduce their digital carbon footprint. He discusses the challenges of integrating digital sustainability into ESG strategies and the impact of initiatives like the “28 by 28” campaign. Chew also expresses optimism about the future sustainability of AI, data centres, and blockchain, highlighting the need for innovative energy-efficient solutions to make these technologies more environmentally friendly.
Get Involved:
We want to hear from you! Share your comments, suggestions, and digital sustainability highlights. Contact our Subject Specialist for Sustainability, Cal Innes, at cal.innes@jisc.ac.uk.
And don’t forget to subscribe to our DIGITAL-SUSTAINABILITY JiscMail mailing list for future editions of the Digital Sustainability Newsletter.
