The Conference of the Parties (COP) is a collection of states that have ratified the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In it, they promise to work together to keep greenhouse gas levels “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.” The parties, or nations, have convened yearly since then.
To meet world leaders and establish priorities, a different nation from a different world area assumes the COP Presidency each year. COP27 will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, a city in Egypt, from November 6th to 18th.
Over the last few years, the entire world has witnessed a massive digital transformation journey. One of the key concerns that has already surrounded technology is how sustainable is it and how it can boost sustainability. This was the time when the term ‘Sustainable Tech’ saw its boom. As a method to use technology for sustainability, we have seen more electric vehicles, Carbon capture and storage technologies and more. And then there are many technology companies that does their fair share to go sustainable in manufacturing, use of products, packaging and more.
Long-term investors are likely to work with businesses with better ESG scores. With sustainable tech at ones disposal, businesses are said to become more desirable for investment. In the current market, almost all businesses use technology one way or other, whether it be for email or for massive data centres. Hence, it is important to keep an eye out to technology companies who bring forward sustainable measures.
Here are three technology companies that brings sustainable innovations to COP 27.
CISCO
CISCO is participating at COP 27 as IT service provider. The company, among others, will provide professional and technical services to design, implement and support the wireless network infrastructure at COP27 to enable highly secure connectivity for all attendees and the host nation.
The service provider’s support for COP27 builds on their innovations and commitment to sustainability. For more than 15 years, Cisco has worked towards a sustainable future by focusing on renewable energy, the energy efficiency of our products and a circular economy. It sets clear, ambitious, public goals against which it measures and reports progress such as the commitment to reach net zero, for all scopes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
IBM
IBM has been named technology partner of COP 27. The company will showcase how technology and consulting can help business and government leaders align sustainability goals to organizational objectives, responding to regulatory demands without compromising profitability.
This collaboration with the Presidency of Egypt builds on IBM’s history of environmental commitments and alliances, such as establishing a goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 or being a founding member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. IBM also enables organisations and communities to tackle environmental issues through programs like the IBM Sustainability Accelerator.
MICROSOFT
Microsoft is participating at COP 27 as a strategic principal sponsor. Through its COP27 partnership, Microsoft aims to help people and organisations understand and harness the transformative power of technology to set and achieve new and impactful climate goals.
Organisations of all types, sizes, and sectors will need to fundamentally transform their operations to meet the new sustainability imperatives. Regardless of where companies are on their journeys, Microsoft is dedicated to being of help. In 2020, the company announced an ambitious commitment and detailed plan to be carbon negative by 2030 and to remove from the environment all the carbon it had emitted since its founding by 2050. The company has built on this pledge by adding commitments to be water positive by 2030, zero waste by 2030, and to protect ecosystems by developing a Planetary Computer.
