"Make IT Green" Cloud Computing and its Contribution to Climate
Change", shows how the launch of quintessential cloud computing
devices like the Apple iPad, which offer users access to the
"cloud" of online services like social networks and video
streaming, can contribute to a much larger carbon footprint of the
IT sector than previously estimated.
The report builds on previous industry research (2) that shows
that at current growth rates data centers and telecommunication
networks, the two key components of the cloud, will consume about
1,963 billion kilowatts hours of electricity in 2020, more than
triple their current consumption and -almost double than
electricity consumption of India. (3) However, the report also
shows how IT can avert climate chaos by becoming a transformative
force advocating for solutions that increase the use of renewable
energy.
India is now considered the new global hub for Cloud Computing.
There is massive expansion going on in digital infrastructure like
Data-centers & Telecom towers. According to IDC India, the
domestic Data Centre Market is expected to touch US$ 1.52 billion
with cumulative data centre built-up area likely to touch nearly
8.4 million square feet (4). Recently, Tata Communications unveiled
its largest Data-center in India located on 55,000 Sq.ft. in Pune.
Google is also building its new Data-center close to Hyderabad
which occupies 20 acres of lands. Many other international and
local players are also building their data-centers which is seeing
rapid growth in the Indian market at 31 % CAGR. Further, numbers of
telecom towers are also expanding from the current 2,50,000 to
around 4,00,000 in the next three years. The telecommunication
sector alone consumes 1.8 billion litres of diesel to run their
Base transmission Towers.
"As digital infrastructure expands, the IT industry's appetite
for energy will increase, making it a major source of climate
change unless the industry adopts and advocates renewable energy
use and backs laws to cut growing emission," said Abhishek Pratap,
Greenpeace India Cool IT campaigner. "IT companies are now in
powerful positions given the huge contribution of this sector to
the economy at the national level. They must use that influence to
promote policies that will allow them to grow responsibly without
helping to fuel climate change."
Facebook recently announced the construction of its own data
center in Prineville, Oregon, running primarily on coal. By
choosing energy company PacifiCorp, a utility that sources the
majority of its power from coal-fired power stations, Facebook
missed a chance to promote the use of renewable energy and instead
reinforced the coal industry's grip on the United Sates power grid.
(5)
"The ICT sector has the ability to help us combat climate change
by doing what it is best at - innovating to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and increase energy efficiency," Greenpeace International
Campaigner Casey Harrell said. "Technologies that enable smart
grids, zero emission buildings and more efficient transport systems
are key to cutting climate change pollution. But given the current
pace of growth in cloud computing, the industry needs to get its
own carbon footprint under control." (6)
Greenpeace calls on IT industry giants to put their might behind
government policies that give priority grid access for renewable
sources like wind and solar energy. IT companies should also
support economy-wide climate and energy policies around the world
that peak emissions by 2015.
For further information, contact
Abhishek Pratap, Cool IT Campaigner, Greenpeace India
Phone: +91 9845610749
Email: 
Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International Campaigner,
Phone + 1 415 307 3382
Email: 
Derek J. Wheeler, Media Officer, Greenpeace India
Phone +91 96864 50035
Email: 
Notes to Editor
1. Make IT Green” Cloud Computing and its Contribution to Climate Change” is available for download at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/make-it-green-cloud-computing
2. The Make IT Green report builds on the seminal analysis of the Smart 2020 Report (2008) which detailed the growing carbon footprint of data centers and telecommunication networks. To make the data of the report more accessible as an instrument to evaluate the projected impact of the cloud on electricity demand and their relationship to energy policies, the Smart 2020 analysis has been de-aggregated to show overall electricity consumption
The 2020 Report provides carbon footprint figures in MtCO2e as a combination of two sources of emissions: indirect emissions from electricity use (scope 2) and indirect emissions from upstream production (scope 3), or embodied carbon. To show electricity or energy use emissions separately, a correction factor [Scope 2/ (Scope 2+3)] was applied. This correction factor for Scope 2 is derived from the information provided on global internet footprint in the Smart 2020 Report, which includes PCs in addition to telecoms and data centers. The Smart 2020 Report is available at http://www.smart2020.org/publications
3. National electricity consumption data obtained from the United States Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, 2007 data. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2042rank.html
4. Ministry of New & Renewable Energy tender for powering Telecom tower through Renewable energy http://mnes.nic.in/
5. To challenge Facebook to drop coal and use clean energy, Greenpeace began an advocacy page on Facebook. As of now, more than 3,65,000 people have signed one of the Facebook groups (in English and Spanish) http://www.greenpeace.org/coalfacebook
6. The ICT sector’s abilities to lead and to innovate are the reasons Greenpeace began its Cool IT Campaign in 2009. The campaign uses direct company engagement and public engagement to provide pressure on the ICT industry to put forward solutions to achieve economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions reductions and to be strong advocates for policies that combat climate change and increase the use of renewable energy. For more information visit http://www.greenpeace.org/coolit