Business leaders warn energy crisis will impact emission reduction plans
Eighty-one percent of business leaders at UK and Irish data centres believe the energy crisis had impacted their organisation’s ability to meet its emissions reduction plans, according to a report by digital automation and energy management company Schneider Electric.
The survey of 1,500 large organisations found that around half of business leaders are delaying planned investment in sustainability and net zero plans (49%). Four in 10 of the same organisations (40%) said they now have more immediate business challenges to meet while 43% claimed that emission reduction targets are no longer an issue for their stakeholders. More than one in five (22%) of these firms claimed that taking practical action to meet targets was difficult.
Furthermore, business leaders recognise the importance of working to emissions reduction targets, Nearly one third (32%) of data centre business leaders said climate change and net zero ambitions will become more of a priority over the next three years. Only a small minority (11%) said that national net zero commitments would be diluted in that time.
Mark Yeeles, vice president, secure power division, Schneider Electric UK and Ireland, said: “Business leaders tell us that the energy crisis should be seen alongside the many other challenges they have faced over the last 12 months, including economic pressures, cyber security and skills shortages. Yet our research suggests that some of the UK and Ireland’s data centres are ‘kicking the carbon emissions can down the road’, as a result of the energy crisis.
“As fears grow about progress against global commitments made under the Paris Agreement, and the UK’s Climate Change Committee warns of a lack of progress on emissions cuts, the UK and Ireland need data centres to play their part and stick to their net zero and emissions reduction targets.”
The survey also revealed that 32% of data centre managers expect energy prices to fall over the next three years, while more than seven out of 10 (71%) thought their organisation would still be addressing the energy crisis in 12 months’ time.
Yeeles urged data centre operators to re-engage with their emissions reduction ambitions: “It’s not all doom and gloom.
“The technology required to help businesses decarbonise is already available and the return on investment for these solutions has never been more attractive, with payback periods measured in months rather than years. Organisations still have time to meet their net zero commitments by understanding and addressing energy use, investing in renewable energy and energy saving technology, and embedding sustainability and carbon reduction targets in their business plans,” said Yeeles.
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