Government Insights Highlights Pathways to Greener Pastures

By Greg McNevin

November 24 2008: IDC’s research and advisory firm Government Insights has released a new study on Green IT, which examines trends and opportunities related to IT’s role in sustainability within Asia/Pacific.

Called “To Greener Pastures – Challenges and Opportunities for the Public Sector”, the study draws on findings from IDC's 2008 Green Poll survey of CIOs, IT directors, and IT managers across multiple industries, including 113 public sector employees.

IDC says that the survey findings suggest that awareness of Green IT within the public sector is strong, but public sector adoption is uneven. It notes that "Lean IT", which first and foremost reduces costs (and by extension carbon emissions), leads the public sector Green IT agenda.

“As global demand for a lighter carbon footprint grows, the public sector risks being impelled to react to public pressure and regulatory mandates if it does not maximize the unique position it has to shape these policies now,” says Fiona Kanagasingam, Senior Market Analyst, Government Insights, IDC Asia/Pacific. “In this context, technology is a highly strategic tool to achieve wider objectives related to sustainability.”

Government Insights emphasises the need for comprehensive transformation, which means not just integrating green considerations, but driving changes through public procurement, and the public sector's multiple roles as a regulator, large employer, and core business owner of diverse policy areas.

“Public sector CIOs play a critical role in addressing challenges and maximizing opportunities related to IT-enabled sustainable development,” says Kanagasingam. “They should seize the opportunity to shape the strategic and emerging policy agenda on sustainable development, by assessing and articulating how IT compounds, but also offers transformational solutions to reduce the carbon footprint.”

Comment on this story