Month: July 2023

Do you feel a bit lost when people refer to certain environmental sustainability topics and aren’t sure where to start when it comes to learning more? Sustainability 101 is a blog series that you can turn to for information about different environmental terms that may come up at work, during discussions with friends, and even at your annual holiday gathering.

The term IT (Information Technology) has been in use since an article in the Harvard Business Review in 19581. However what people think of when they hear the term IT has changed dramatically over the years—from feeding punched cards into a mainframe computer, to a smartphone accessing services from the cloud.

When analysing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions it’s important to be clear about the scope being discussed, so often researchers will use the formal sector definition of Information and Communication Technology2 (ICT). This sector definition states that ICT includes user devices including laptops, smartphones and tablets; networks including fixed, mobile and enterprise networks; and data centres including everything from enterprise data centres through to the large hyperscale data centres.

In addition to studying the ICT sector, researchers will often also look at the GHG emissions from the Entertainment and Media (E&M) sector, as this sector is tightly linked in the way we consume many digital services today. This E&M sector definitions includes TV’s, gaming consoles, printers, scanners, and paper media.

Both these sector definitions continue to evolve as new IT devices and services appear, such as virtual reality (VR) headsets, wearables, and smart home technologies. This continual evolution of the scope is one of the things that makes the analysis difficult and means care needs to be taken when comparing results between different researchers.

The IT industry in our everyday lives

Today we take many of these IT services for granted. The movie we watch at home on a Saturday night may start in a large data centre, stream across the internet, come into our house via a router and then be viewed on a large TV screen. Similarly at work, when we call a colleague our speech is likely to be broken into digital packets and transmitted over the same network used to access the sales systems.

New technologies continue to mature and become more pervasive, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data, and the cloud. Cisco amongst others publish predictions of how these technologies will change our digital experiences, change the way we work, and shape our lives.3

As IT becomes more and more pervasive in our lives, we naturally see an increasing interest and debate around its impact on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

How does IT contribute to emissions and climate change?

When we talk about the impact that IT has on climate change, people often refer to the carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is more than just the electricity used by a product. The carbon footprint looks at the impact across the full lifecycle of a product including acquiring the raw materials, manufacturing and shipping, electricity use in operations, and treating the product at end of life.

Most studies of the ICT sector indicate that user devices account for around half of the total carbon footprint. Breaking that down across a user devices life cycle, around half of the carbon footprint is related to the use phase, and the other half to the remainder of the life cycle. The remaining carbon footprint of ICT is split between networks and data centres as in figure 1. For these the largest part of the carbon footprint comes from the use phase.

The GHG emissions from the use phase of a device depends on the energy source used to make the electricity that powers it. In some countries, or for some companies, they may use a lot of renewable energy, in which case the use phase contribution to the carbon footprint may be smaller. However even when renewable energy is being used, increasing energy efficiency is still a focus as estimates show ICT currently uses around 4% of global electricity4.

Although conclusions from different studies vary, it is estimated that the ICT sector causes between 1.5% and 4% of global GHG emissions. This is said to be the direct carbon footprint.

IT has the potential to help reduce global GHG emissions

While the direct effect of ICT increases GHG emissions, the indirect effects could lead to a decrease, or an increase. Examples where ICT could help decrease emissions are leveraging artificial intelligence to improve fuel efficiency in cars or using video conferencing to replace a business trip. Examples where it could lead to an increase in emissions (sometimes referred to as a rebound effect) are where the cost to drive a car per kilometre decreases due to the efficiency gains, so people drive longer distances, or after meeting by video conference then flying to meet in person.”

Studies of the potential of ICT to decrease GHG emissions usually either focus on one specific use case such as video conferencing, which is then studied in detail, or do an estimate across several different industry sectors like transport, buildings, or energy. This type of analysis is very complicated and while a number of studies estimate that ICT has the potential to reduce global emissions 15% by 2030, the range of estimates varies from 1.3% to 20%5.

Overall, the available published data suggests that ICT has the potential to help reduce global GHG emissions significantly, but more real-world data is needed to understand both the opportunities and the risks. Whether ICT can ultimately reduce emissions depends not only on the technology, but also our ability to master rebound effects.

Actions Cisco is taking to help reduce emissions

As a large, global company, we want to do our part to decrease the GHG emissions associated with our business and help our customers do the same. A key priority is continuing to improve the performance of our products while maintaining, or decreasing, their energy use. This allows us to tackle our direct GHG emissions and reduces global energy demand. We try this through product improvements such as more energy efficient power supplies, research into alternative methods of cooling, and next generation ASICs. We’re also giving our customers more insight into their energy usage through energy dashboards like in Cisco Nexus Dashboard, and giving them the ability to save energy by setting policies to switch off features outside of office hours like in Webex Control Hub.

In addition to helping tackle direct emissions we also look at how we can help reduce emissions in other sectors through innovations like Smart Buildings6. Lastly of course we look at how we can reduce our own emissions from our internal operations like our data centres and we share our lessons learnt so others can do the same7.

The role of IT in climate change is complicated and we recognise that as an industry we still have a lot of work to do. However, if we learn to harness the power of IT wisely, it could become a key enabler for the transition to a net zero world.

Willing to learn and engage more on environmental sustainability? In the next blog in our series, we will share more about virgin plastics.

Information regarding Cisco’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, goals and commitments, our latest impact, as well as policies and additional disclosures for specialized audiences, can be found in our 2022 Cisco Purpose Report and supplemental information in our ESG Reporting Hub.

“Management in the 1980’s” by Harold J. Leavitt and Thomas L. Whisler https://hbr.org/1958/11/management-in-the-1980s“Annex 1. The OECD Definition of the ICT Sector” https://www.oecd.org/digital/ieconomy/2771153.pdf“Tech Trends and Predictions That Will Shape 2023” https://blogs.cisco.com/news/tech-trends-and-predictions-that-will-shape-2023“ICT Sector Electricity Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions – 2020 Outcome” https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4424264“A review of assessments of the greenhouse gas footprint and abatement potential of information and communication technology” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195925522002992?via%3Dihub“Sustainability 101: How smart buildings help the planet and people” https://blogs.cisco.com/csr/sustainability-101-how-smart-buildings-help-the-planet-and-people“Cisco IT Data Center Sustainability” https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/enterprise/cisco-on-cisco/cisco-it-dc-sustainability-wp.html

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Originally published in Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

We are a values-driven organization dedicated to our collective commitment to how we conduct business and work together every day with each other, our clients and the communities we serve. 

As part of these efforts, we strive to offer competitive total rewards programs, promote colleague development and foster a diverse environment. Accordingly, we seek to implement policies and practices that align with applicable laws and regulations and are in the best interest of our stakeholders.

Webster believes in upholding the principles of safety and observing fair labor and employment practices throughout our organization, including providing equal opportunities. We recognize the importance of having engaged colleagues, and we support the personal development of our colleagues to help them achieve their career goals. In 2022, we introduced a Belonging at Webster course, which outlines the behaviors expected of each colleague to create and maintain a workplace free of discrimination, harassment and bullying. This course is required for all colleagues.

Human capital management is a top priority at Webster and is managed by members of the senior team.

“At Webster, we strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where every colleague feels empowered to bring their true authentic selves to work each and every day. When colleagues feel free to share their experiences, perspectives and backgrounds we create a stronger and more creative work environment where everyone’s point of view is valued and respected. This diversity of thought enables us to better help our clients and the communities we serve achieve their financial goals.”

Javier L. Evans, Chief Human Resources Officer

To learn more about Webster Bank’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit our CR webpage.

For full details about Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report, visit here.

We’re proud to sponsor the Muhammad Ali Center‘s 4th annual Greatest Give Back event to help pack 2,200 healthy snack kits and 2,200 backpacks that will be distributed to nonprofit organizations across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Thanks to our amazing partner Metro United Way for making this event happen and Yum! volunteers for taking time out to give back to our community!

Preserving the environment and our oceans for future generations requires action today; that’s why we are committed to supporting organizations like Every Can Counts (ECC) in its ongoing efforts to combat landfill waste and minimize carbon footprints by successfully recapturing infinitely recyclable used beverage cans (UBCs). 

To bring awareness to the positive impacts of recycling, ECC has just executed its third International Recycling Tour, an inspiring event hosted across numerous European and Brazilian cities in which ambassadors collect UBCs directly from consumers in parks and busy urban areas. Amid this year’s event, Veronique Curulla, Marketing and Business Development Director in Crown’s European Division and board member of the Every Can Counts Executive Committee, shares her perspective on the value ECC brings to industry sustainability initiatives and the importance of recycling. 

As we celebrate #WorldEnvironmentDay today and look ahead to #WorldOceansDay later this week, we encourage all of our followers to continue the momentum ECC has created with its widespread recycling attention and to #keepthecyclegoing with the world’s most sustainable beverage packaging.

Business remains the most trusted institution globally, according to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer. With this trust comes increased expectations to do the right thing on key societal issues. Companies who embrace this responsibility are a source of hope for driving positive change on the most challenging issues we face — whether that’s racial inequity and injustice or an intensifying climate crisis.

The good news is that as the world expected and demanded more from businesses in the past few years, many readily answered the call. When stakeholders explicitly told them they needed to step up, be vocal and take a stand, they used their power and platform for good. From supporting frontline workers, vulnerable populations and low-income countries that lacked vaccine access in the face of COVID-19, to making public commitments and acting to further racial justice and equity for Black, Indigenous and Asian people who were impacted by devastating events of racial hate, corporations proved they could be counted on in times of crisis. And those who meaningfully showed up were met with great accolades and allegiances, but also — in some cases — backlash, embroiling business in yet another threat to progress: polarization.

In this economically turbulent period, it’s become more difficult to decouple today’s societal issues from political undercurrents. In a time rife with rollbacks around access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare for women and LGBTQ people and an ongoing war in Ukraine, many companies are now finding themselves in a double bind: Avoid action and risk impeding much-needed progress and alienating a socially driven population. Or veer too deep into issues deemed political, tip into polarization and face negativity.

Regardless of where businesses stand on when, how or even if they will show up publicly on divisive yet important societal issues, employees remain invested in the idea that a company’s role is to help their people grow and evolve through consciousness raising, continuous learning and opportunities to make a positive impact.

The role of business in bettering employees 

As corporate purpose programs mature and increase in importance, companies are recognizing their role is not only bettering the communities in which they operate but supporting their people in becoming better humans. What better actually looks like will vary from company to company.

In 2023, companies are left contemplating how they will straddle the seemingly impossible expectation to make progress on major issues, better their people and act as a unifying force for society in the face of politicization — all while the pressure of profits looms. It’s unsurprising that tension prevails among CSR leaders.

As companies consider balancing competing corporate and societal needs without adding to further division, every business will need to reflect on what better looks like for them and then use it as a North Star to guide them through the next period of uncertainty.

The question remains: How do you do this in a practical way that meaningfully represents your company’s mission and the values of your stakeholders?

Discover the top five emerging societal and industry trends shaping the future of CSR, DEI and ESG in The State of Corporate Purpose 2023.

RESTON, Va., July 19, 2023 /3BL/ – CACI International Inc’s (NYSE: CACI) SkyTracker® Technology Suite protects the nation from evolving counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) threats, and recently, local high school students caught a rare glimpse into how the company’s drone technology achieves its mission.

As part of CACI’s philanthropic efforts to spark a passion for STEM among younger people, the company proudly sponsored Techstravaganza, which was hosted by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. During the event, CACI volunteers Patrick Poling, systems engineer, and Parker Agan, engineering intern, demonstrated how the company’s C-UAS technology helps to secure the nation. This presentation, featuring the SkyTracker Technology Suite, offered a unique experience to the attending students who learned how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) contribute to national security.

“Investing in the next generation of talent is a rewarding venture that CACI strongly supports,” said Todd Probert, CACI President of National Security and Innovative Solutions. “We are helping to drive and inspire younger talent to discover a path into national security by exposing them to potential careers in STEM, which is a critical need for our business and our customers.”

Techstravaganza is a free, hands-on STEM activity fair that is open to the public and attracts thousands of students from the greater Washington area each year. Students and their families interact with more than 50 different labs and demonstrations that cover a wide range of STEM concepts. This year, more than 3,000 students attended from over 100 different elementary and middle schools.

CACI opens doors for the next generation of talent through its internship program and early career opportunities. Recruitment for CACI’s Summer 2024 Internship Program will begin in September 2023.

Learn more about CACI’s early career and internship opportunities.

Learn more about CACI’s philanthropy program, CACI Cares.

ABOUT CACI

CACI’s approximately 22,000 talented employees are ever vigilant in providing the unique expertise and distinctive technology that address our customers’ greatest enterprise and mission challenges. Our culture of good character, innovation, and excellence drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. As a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index, we consistently deliver strong shareholder value. Visit us at www.caci.com.

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Corporate Communications and Media:

Lorraine Corcoran 
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com