Here is today’s sustainable IT services and climate tech news, research and analysis -- written for technology partners, green IT service providers, CIOs, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and climate accounting professionals.
A. Sustainable IT, Talent, Partnerships and Green Tech Alliances
1. Research: Despite some political headwinds, 97% of executives say sustainability reporting will be a business advantage within two years, and 96% of investors agree it strengthens financial performance, a Workiva survey found. The findings surface even as the Trump Administration ends climate policies from the Biden Administration, and the European Union reevaluates some regulatory deadlines for ESG reporting.
2. Sustainable AI Coalition Surfaces: A new organization, known as the Coalition for Sustainable AI, has launched to make artificial intelligence "beneficial to our environmental goals."
3. IT Services and Software: Bain & Company has launched the Sustainability Readiness Tool, an AI-powered solution "designed to help organizations assess and enhance their sustainability preparedness," the organization said.
4. ITAD Certification: CompuCycle has achieved R2v3 certification, a standard for sustainable and secure e-waste recycling. CompuCycle specializes in IT asset disposal solutions.
5. Partnership - AI and City Resilience: IBM and C40 Cities, a global network of nearly 100 city mayors, are partnering to "create a data-driven, AI-powered solution to help cities analyze potential risks that may arise as a result of extreme heat and the urban heat island effect," the organizations said.
6. Partnership - Data Centers: Overwatch Capital and Nautilus Data Technologies are partnering to "redefine the deployment of modular, high-density AI-ready data centers powered primarily by clean energy microgrids." Financial terms of the relationship, if any, were not disclosed.
7. Partnership - Data Centers: Accelsius and Nordik Data Centers are partnering to build an AI data center near Montreal, Canada. The project features a co-innovation lab where customers can "validate performance metrics and efficiency gains of Accelsius' cooling technology in real-world conditions," the two companies said. The relationship surfaces one month after Nordik Data Centers and GenerIA partnered to "provides organizations with a sovereign, secure, and eco-responsible alternative for developing and hosting their artificial intelligence solutions," the two companies said. Similarly, Accelsius and iM Data Centers partnered in November 2024 to "deliver sustainable, scalable data center cooling solutions. The effort initially targets iM’s Miami data center, which is set to open in Q1 2025.
8. SBTi Standard Delays: The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has delayed a much-anticipated revision to the Corporate Net Zero Standard, Trellis reported. The revision has been the subject of scrutiny and controversy since April 2024, Editor at Large Heather Clancy noted, after SBTi suggested companies might be able to use “environmental attribute certificates” such as carbon credits to mitigate some Scope 3 emissions.
B. Sustainability M&A, Climate Tech Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. Accelerator: The Zayed Sustainability Prize has opened its call for submissions for 2026. The US$5.9 million fund empowers small and medium sized enterprises, nonprofits, and high schools to develop sustainable solutions and transform their communities, according to organizers.
2. Startup Funding: Chestnut Carbon has raised $160 million in Series B funding to plant, restore and manage trees on degraded farmland. Key carbon credit customers include Microsoft. Canada Pension Plan led the latest funding round.
3. Investment - EV Charger Company: HSBC's asset management arm has invested in SP Mobility, an EV charger network operator in Singapore. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal involves a "significant minority stake," The Business Times reported.
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. European Union Climate Goals: The European Union commission by March 2025 will propose a European Climate Law amendment that sets an interim emissions-reduction target for the bloc at 90% by 2040, advancing its ambitious climate agenda, Bloomberg reported.
2. United States - SEC Preparing to Drop Climate-Related Disclosure Rules?: SEC Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda appears to be taking steps to kill the SEC's pending climate-related disclosure rules.
D. Sustainable IT and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- IoT Evolution Expo 2025 (February 11-13, Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
- India Energy Week 2025 (February 11-14, New Delhi, India)
- Step Conference 2025 - Earth Track Dates (February 19-20, Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
- Sustainability Live Malta 2025 (February 20, Valetta, Malta)
- ICISAS 2025 (February 22-23, Dubai, UAE)
- Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences
E. Previous Updates & Future News
- Did You Miss Yesterday's Daily Update?: Here is our previous sustainable IT, climate tech and renewable energy news for technology partners.
- Future Updates: If you have news to share then please email me the details.
