ESG Backlash – What Now for DC Sustainability

The ESG movement is under fire from political pressures and attitudes; with growing opposition for ESG measures in the US, we’re seeing key players in the financial sector withdrawing from environmental alliances due to political pressures. Many of the changes that we are seeing began around the same time as Trump’s reelection and so, it often has us wondering if the two are aligned...  

Techbuyer’s Head of Sustainability and Public Sector, Astrid Wynne, recently published an article in Data Centre Magazine on the current state of ESG pressures, as well as what this will mean for the future of sustainability in the data centre sector.  

With the growing demand for AI, paired with political pressures, the data centre sector is currently under a lot of scrutiny. However, this scrutiny comes alongside a desire to compete in a rapidly data heavy world. This creates a troubling position in which sustainable development and dramatic growth are playing off of one another.  

Within this article, Astrid raises the following key questions on the current state of ESG and the future of environmentalism in the data centre sector: 

What does the future look like for ESG legislation?  

With growing pressure from the US, ESG is taking a hit. However, legislation in the EU can only be said to be strengthening. What will this mean for future development of environmental best practice within the political and business spheres?  

What political pressures are we seeing come into play from the US when it comes to sustainable development?  

Within Republican states we’re seeing pressures rise between economic freedom and ESG regulations.  

Why is ESG such a debate in the US?  

What has led to the growth of this opposition in recent years? Changing governments and a question on rights have accelerated the situation to a new level.  

What does the future of the data centre sector look like, taking these pressures into account?  

With AI demanding more and more, regulations on data centres may help measure impact for future development.  

To read the full article, you can head to page 57-58 in this issue of Data Centre Magazine here. 

Techbuyer’s Sustainable IT Solutions 

As a leading supplier of sustainable IT solutions, as well as being a vocal advocate for environmental best practice in the data centre sector, we’re closely watching how the political world will influence the future of ESG.  

At Techbuyer, we believe in developing sustainable habits around IT hardware, this could look like sizing estates to meet demand exactly, maintaining hardware, offering energy efficient solutions and keeping devices in use for longer.  

Explore our full range of sustainable IT solutions in more detail here.