INSIGHTS / Blog

Digital is often regarded as green or sustainable by default. But it’s not. The truth is that whilst digital is usually much less impactful than offering a real-life alternative, it is not without significant downsides.

Did you know that if the internet were a country it would be the 7^th largest emitter of carbon emissions in the world?

Our extensive use of digital does add up to cause a sizable impact and this impact needs to be addressed and reduced, just like every other sector. Even more so when digital is used wastefully.

In this masterclass, you’ll be guided by Hannah Smith from the Green Web Foundation.  The Green Web Foundation is a non-profit with a mission to transition the internet to be fossil-free by 2030. She’ll work with you to explore a definition of sustainability using the Doughnut Economics framework and discuss what any SME using digital can do to reduce their impact.

 

The Digital Sustainability session will be provided in the following format:

• Short bursts of lecture content
• Hand-on exercises to build up learning and explore issues
• Group discussion and peer learning
• Plenty of opportunities to ask questions

It will cover the following content:

• The Doughnut Economics model and how it helps us think about sustainability in a holistic way.
• Placing decarbonisation into the wider context of sustainability.
• The impacts of digital on the world around us, both positively and negatively.
• Appropriate climate responses for SMEs who wish to use digital more sustainably.
• A deep-dive into digital decarbonization:
• What digital activities cause the most carbon emissions
• Common approaches to decarbonizing digital including measurement models

Who should attend:

Any organization that makes significant use of digital in their operations and wants a good intro into the topic. This will be especially useful for those providing digital services to others.

 

Takeaways from the session will include:

• A holistic view of sustainability that goes beyond decarbonization only
• A high-level understanding of why digital creates impact and how
• Actions applicable to your context that will help reduce the impact
• Understanding of how to measure digital carbon emissions and the gotchas
• Confidence of where to look for further information and support

To join this free-to-attend session simply click the button below and scroll down to the online registration form.  Please note you will be asked to join further 2-sessions, these choices can be changed if you are unsure which other sessions might be right for you.

The masterclasses are offered as part of the Sustainable Business Support programme which provides 12 hours of expertise to support the growth of SMEs and startups focusing on sustainability. Fully funded by the ERDF, the full programme of support is free for businesses to access.

Register now for the Masterclasses