Intel is based on the power of technology to help digital and sustainability go hand in hand

     As 2030 approaches, the pressure on businesses to help mitigate climate change is growing. At the same time, disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and edge computing are advancing rapidly, leading to exponential growth in computing demand. How do we balance climate action and digital growth strategies to promote global economic development while protecting the social environment?

     For business leaders, technology is a paradox in the sustainability agenda. Global computing is undoubtedly an important source of carbon emissions and e-waste, but technology is also the key to solving the problem. The key is how we can sustainably meet the growing demand for computing performance. More importantly, how we can use technology to sustainably transform entire businesses and business models for a cleaner, greener, and naturally better future.

     Leadership is essential for this sustainable transformation. It requires leaders to look at the problem with a long-term and in-depth technical system and architecture; We believe the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) has a vital role to play in aligning business strategy, technology and sustainability to meet this challenge. Sustainability requires not only reducing IT-related emissions, but also harnessing the power of technology to transform organizations, so IT is not easy.

     To that end, technology leaders must embrace their new role as chief Technology officers for sustainability, the central opinion leader for company management when it comes to sustainability. This new type of CTO must achieve "technology zero carbon" (greener information technology) and use technology to drive a sustainable transformation across the organization to achieve "technology positive" (greener business) goals. Both "technology Zero carbon" and "technology positive" goals deliver business-driven values that drive growth and win the new economy.

     With this report, we're launching the new Intel Sustainability CTO Program to help you on this journey together. We will bring together global Ctos to share insights and best practices to bridge knowledge gaps and help develop a "technology positive" road map.

     In a global study, we explore how business leaders are addressing two interconnected challenges: achieving sustainability while completing digital transformation. We also looked at the paths they had to take and the difficulties they encountered to accelerate the process. We would like to thank the Intel Sustainability CTO Advisory Board and the 2,020 global business leaders from 22 markets who participated in the global study, including Ctos, ceos and Chief Sustainability Officers (Csos), for sharing insights with us.

     Technology is one of the biggest challenges businesses need to address in the net zero race, but it plays a key role in sustainable transformation. Eighty-four percent of senior IT leaders believe technology plays a critical (53 percent) or important (31 percent) role in their organization's sustainability strategy. On top of that, four out of five (79 percent) senior IT leaders aspire to be the sustainability leader of their organization - the Chief Technology Officer of sustainability. They are also empowered by their boards: 84% of ceos and Ctos believe Ctos will be an important driver of sustainability.