Techies Go Green proves long-term value of community
Back in March 2021, Michael O’Hara, then managing director of DataSolutions, said the following about the climate crisis, when discussing the recent launch of the Techies Go Green initiative: “In the fullness of time, we will appreciate it’s a much more existential issue than the pandemic.”
He also noted that climate change was “a killer for governments” because they were guided by short term thinking set by electoral cycles and “sustainability is a longer term issue”.
Those comments came to mind when I saw a story in The Guardian on 31 July headlined ‘Countries failing to act on UN climate pledge to triple renewables, thinktank finds’. The report by climate thinktank Ember stated that the continuing reliance by countries on fossil fuels was incompatible with the target of limiting global heating to below 1.5C.
On the same day, The Guardian also reported that the New Zealand government voted to bring back fossil fuel exploration, a move described by Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, chief executive of WWF New Zealand, as “egregious” and “deranged”.
The day before, the Irish Times carried a story on a report from energy analysts Wood Mackenzie which predicted data centres in Ireland would consume the same amount of electricity as 2 million homes by 2030 due to their accelerating demands and use of AI.
And the day before that (30 July), the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to try and scrap all limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Perhaps it should rename itself as the Oil and Gas Protection Agency (OGPA).
What all of these stories illustrate, very clearly, is just how irrefutable O’Hara’s argument was about the short term thinking of governments.
It is to his credit that the Techies Go Green initiative he co-founded, a movement of IT and tech-oriented companies committed to decarbonising their businesses and making them green and verifiably sustainable, has gone from strength to strength since its formation in the first quarter of 2021. While governments backslide, more and more IT and tech companies are committing to doing what they can to combat the climate crisis.
Techies Go Green recently gained its 800th member and is aiming to reach the milestone of 1000 members by the end of the year, reflecting what O’Hara describes as “powerful and organic momentum”, the overall ambition is “to grow to 2,500 members and become the go-to voice for business on all things sustainability-related”.
O’Hara says the initiative is thriving “because we deliver real value. Our members consistently tell us that our monthly webinars are a key draw – with subject matter experts who bring practical, deep-dive insights on a wide range of topics… grounded in real-world examples and focused on outcomes. We cover all the big themes in sustainability including energy, transport, construction, renewables, food waste, AI and the circular economy”.
Members also enjoy the sense of community in bringing together professionals across the tech sector “who are united by a shared desire to decarbonise and run more sustainable operations. There’s real power in peer-to-peer learning and shared experiences”.
There have been challenges, particularly navigating the “trough of disillusionment” as people come to terms with “the complexity and long timelines involved in reaching net zero. Political shifts and general fatigue around climate discourse have created headwinds. But we remain undeterred”.
The reason for this steadfast commitment is because “the slope of enlightenment” is here and “we’re already starting to climb it. As climate change becomes more disruptive, regulatory pressures mount (particularly in the EU with CSRD) and customers demand that companies walk the sustainability talk, the business case for action will only strengthen. We believe those who prepare now will be the ones who lead tomorrow”.
But he warns that there’s no room for complacency. “Despite all the progress, too many businesses still haven’t taken meaningful steps towards sustainability. The climate crisis isn’t slowing down – and neither can we,” O’Hara notes.
He cites the “power of collective action” represented by Techies Go Green. “Every new member makes our movement stronger. Every shared insight, every collaboration, every site visit contributes to our shared goal: a greener, more sustainable tech sector. Together, we can make sustainability a core part of doing business and help lead the transition to a cleaner, more resilient future.”
It should be the source of some pride that companies in this industry are doing what they can to make their businesses more sustainable and doing what they are able to combat climate change. They may not be the majority but they are a significant cohort and a great example to others. If only our governments would do the same.
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