A Connected World Shouldn't Cost the Earth

The Sustainable IT Pledge is the first-ever commitment by Canadian organizations to cut rapidly rising emissions from digital technologies.

Canada’s transformation to a digital economy is bringing about job creation and growth. But it also creates carbon emissions that drive climate change.

By 2025, digital technology will account for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions

There are 3.1 billion more mobile connections than people on earth

Energy consumption from digital technologies is rising 6x faster than the rest of the economy

Through the Sustainable IT Pledge, members of the Digital Governance Council have committed to tackling these issues

Technology executives see the whole picture

They are well-placed to address the carbon footprint of entire organizations through their direct decisions and expertise in using technology to solve problems.

Technology executives have control over how data is used and stored, and when devices are replaced
They can use tech procurement to influence the sustainability practices of suppliers and support Canadian cleantechs
They can leverage tech to accelerate enterprise-wide transformation to meet sustainability targets

Government is also becoming digital and going green

The Government of Canada spends $7 billion a year on IT procurement. It is moving to provide digital-first, user-centred services while also aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.

The council pledges to work together to

Share resources and expertise

Promote the national adoption of sustainable IT practices

Identify and scope new sustainable IT standards projects, use cases, pilots, and proofs of concept

Promote Canada’s global leadership in sustainable IT

Individually, members pledge to

Set GHG emissions reduction targets relating to their IT operations and supply chain

Measure and disclose their IT operations’ and supply chain’s GHG emissions and annual emissions progress

Want to know more? Read the pledge in full

Who has signed up?

The following organizations have adopted the Sustainable IT Pledge

We all have to take accountability for not just our personal but also our corporate carbon footprint. We can’t simply pass it off as someone else’s responsibility or wait for someone else to solve it. It’s easy to say the “buck stops here”. Maybe what we really need to say is the “solution starts here”. That’s true accountability. I’m proud to stand with the other CIOs on the Digital Governance Council who are stepping up to be part of the solution.

Jim Love | CIO & Chief Digital Officer, IT World Canada

The importance of us all taking action to protect the environment has never been greater, which is why Micro Focus is proud to sign the Sustainable IT Pledge, alongside our peers. We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and to helping our customers and partners address their carbon footprint and adopt carbon friendly IT strategies. Through this pledge, the work of the Digital Governance Council and our collective efforts, together we can play a part in helping to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Neil Correa | Cyber Strategist, Micro Focus

We are proud to add Microsoft Canada to the Digital Governance Council Sustainable IT Pledge, adding to our continued leadership when it comes to driving down emissions in the sector. Last year, Microsoft committed to be carbon negative by 2030 and, by 2050, to remove from the environment all the carbon the company has emitted since it was founded in 1975. We continue to work towards this goal and strive to help our customers achieve their own sustainability goals along with us.

John Weigelt | National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada

Advisory committee

The following organizations are providing leadership on the Sustainable IT Advisory Committee

Technical partners

The following organizations are providing technical support

Ecosystem partners

The following associations and sector organizations support the pledge

Make a difference, sign the pledge