May 2021
Price: £150 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference examined priorities, next steps and challenges for decarbonisation in the tech sector.
Delegates discussed opportunities and the contribution of the sector more widely as part of the wider UK policy drive towards achieving net-zero emissions.
The conference was an opportunity to discuss implications of the Government’s recently-published Industrial decarbonisation strategy for UK technology businesses - which sets out a pathway for net-zero whilst retaining competitiveness and avoiding exporting problems abroad, as well as seeking to engage investors and consumers and move towards ‘low regret’ technologies.
Sessions in the agenda looked at:
- developing the tech circular economy - reusability by design, reducing waste, and meeting the challenge of proliferation of devices
- innovation in hard-to-decarbonise settings - data centre management, heating and cooling systems, and energy efficiency across manufacturing
- securing buy-in - looking at consumers, industry leaders, and across supply chains
- advancing international collaboration - supply chains, carbon footprint transparency, and regulatory and legal framework, as well as opportunities from the upcoming COP26 climate summit
- opportunities for the technology sector - the role that tech stakeholders can play on the back of the drive to net-zero in supporting wider industry decarbonisation
The agenda
- Priorities for decarbonising the UK tech sector and securing buy-in from industry leaders, supply chains and consumers
- Decarbonising tech, circular electronics and digital solutions to support net-zero
- Developing the tech circular economy - reusability by design, reducing waste, and meeting the challenge of proliferation of devices
- Innovation in hard-to-decarbonise settings - data centre management, use of heating and cooling systems, and improving energy efficiency across manufacturing
- The role of technology in supporting wider industry to meet net-zero targets
- COP26 and advancing international collaboration - sustainable supply chains, greater transparency on the sector’s carbon footprint, and fostering robust regulatory and legal frameworks
Key areas for discussion:
The Industrial decarbonisation strategy - with its focus on the tech sector, assessing the challenges and opportunities it presents, including:
- changes to tech sector processes and incorporation of low-regret technologies, increasing efficiency and supporting innovation
- relationships with consumers and investors, and with local and devolved UK governments
- opportunities for new trading markets, and for tech for good, including in international development
Priorities for decarbonising the UK tech sector:
- industry engagement - what more needs to be done to encourage buy-in from industry, supply chains and consumers
- consumer engagement - innovating design, promoting better product labelling, as well as consumer and supply chain awareness, and widening the options and availability of electrical goods recycling
- developing the tech circular economy - and meeting the challenge of proliferation of devices
- supporting SMEs - promoting and facilitating decarbonisation, emissions reduction and the sharing of best practice across the sector
- energy use - encouraging innovative solutions to data centre management, energy efficiency, and the use of heating and cooling systems
Encouraging international collaboration ahead of COP26:
- looking towards COP26 - how the UK Government, regulators and industry should prepare to lead on the issue of tech industry decarbonisation
- collaboration - working with global partners to design robust international regulatory frameworks, improve transparency on the sector’s carbon footprint, and develop sustainable supply chains
Supporting industry to meet net-zero targets:
- the wider decarbonisation pathway - the role of technology and digital infrastructure in:
- contributing to the transition to lowering energy use
- driving changes in consumer and business behaviour
- using data to improve efficiency
- providing innovative solutions to challenges faced across energy-intensive industries
- innovation - the utilisation and rollout of AI and machine learning to improve business efficiency:
- working with innovators to make industry adoption more achievable
- addressing issues around compatibility with a wide range of tech and digital sector technologies
- demonstrating cost and carbon saving potential
A scan of relevant background:
- the Industrial decarbonisation strategy - the government’s new policy on the practicalities of the drive to net-zero, with a focus on the tech sector, and proposals on:
- an emphasis on the concept of low-regret technologies
- engagement with businesses, local government, investors and the public
- boosting efficiency and innovation
- addressing regional inequalities and benefiting local economies and the employment they can provide
- leveraging developments in the UK to support international development and trade
- commitments from Big Tech:
- Netflix has announced aims to achieve net-zero by 2022
- Microsoft has stated its intention to become carbon negative from 2030
- Apple has promised to become carbon neutral by the same time
- Facebook has committed to reaching net-zero within the decade
- the Tech Zero Taskforce - with support from the Government’s Council for Sustainable Business and industry body Tech Nation, the fifteen UK-based tech firms that form the Tech Zero Taskforce aim to sign up 1,000 UK tech companies to net-zero commitments, in advance of COP26
- the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution - outlining the Government’s priorities for innovating energy-intensive sectors and supporting UK leadership in emerging technologies
- Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact - signed by major European cloud and data centre operators, as well as smaller and national providers, aimed at making data centres climate neutral by 2030
- as a response to the EU’s European Green Deal aimed at ensuring there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050
- UK tech for a sustainable future - ongoing work by Tech Nation designed to support tech companies that are building a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future
- Digital technology can cut global emissions by 15% - the World Economic Forum suggesting tech-based solutions in energy, manufacturing, land use, buildings, services, and transport
- preparations for COP26 due to take place later this year - with Alok Sharma MP appointed as full-time President of the UN COP26 climate conference
Policy officials attending:
Places were reserved by officials from BEIS; the Crown Commercial Service; Defra; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the Government Legal Department; the Health and Safety Executive; the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; the National Audit Office; the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; and the Welsh Government. As well as representatives from 1Spatial; Allen & Overy; Arqiva; BTL Surpass; Burges Salmon; Christopher Mee & Associates; Connected Places Catapult; Cranfield University; Fieldfisher; Herbert Smith Freehills; Innovate UK; London Legacy Development Corporation; Ministry of Defence; MTM London; NatureScot; Plymouth Science Park; Science and Technology Facilities Council; TLT Solicitors; University of Nottingham and Zero Waste Scotland.
A press pass was reserved by a representative from Satellite Evolution Group.
