Security News > 2021 > March > Cloud computing could prevent the emission of 1 billion metric tons of CO2

Continued adoption of cloud computing could prevent the emission of more than 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from 2021 through 2024, a forecast from IDC shows.

The forecast uses data on server distribution and cloud and on-premises software use along with third-party information on datacenter power usage, CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour, and emission comparisons of cloud and non-cloud datacenters.

If the percentage of green cloud datacenters today stays where it is, just the migration to cloud itself could save 629 million metric tons over the four-year time period.

If all datacenters in use in 2024 were designed for sustainability, then 1.6 billion metric tons could be saved.

The projection of more than 1 billion metric tons is based on the assumption that 60% of datacenters will adopt the technology and processes underlying more sustainable "Smarter" datacenters by 2024.

"The idea of 'green IT' has been around now for years, but the direct impact of hyperscale computing can have on CO2 emissions is getting increased notice from customers, regulators, and investors and it's starting to factor into buying decisions," said Cushing Anderson, program VP at IDC. "For some, going 'carbon neutral' will be achieved using carbon offsets, but designing datacenters from the ground up to be carbon neutral will be the real measure of contribution. And for advanced cloud providers, matching workloads with renewable energy availability will further accelerate their sustainability goals."

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