Greenpeace started evaluating global Information Technology (IT) companies in 2009 because IT companies have a central role to play in enabling a modern, renewable-powered energy infrastructure. The IT sector has the opportunity to drive transformative change in the consumption and production of energy, with the potential to drive a significant reduction in the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Today it was announced that Cisco is tied with Google for the top spot on the Cool IT Leaderboard -- a scoring system that analyzes IT companies’ contributions to achieving global greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 15 percent by 2020.

The Greenpeace analysis of Cisco’s performance said “Cisco’s leadership improved across each of the three evaluation areas, particularly for updated commitments to manage its energy footprint and increase the amount of renewable energy powering its operations.”

Read more about Cisco’s programs to help the environment in our 2012 CSR Report.

Tags: Cisco, climate change, Cool IT, Energy, GHG, Google, greenpeace

As a futurist and technologist, I’m an optimist. I view technology through the lens of how it can help people.

From this perspective, there is no better time to be alive than now. That’s because we are entering an era where the Internet has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of everyone on our planet—from accelerating the discovery of cures for diseases, to understanding climate change, to enhancing the way companies do business, to making every day more enjoyable.

Already, the Internet has benefited many individuals, businesses, and countries by improving education through the democratization of information, allowing for economic growth through electronic commerce, and accelerating business innovation by enabling greater collaboration.

So what will the next decade of the Internet bring?

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Tags: climate change, connecting, Connections Economy, IBSG, Internet of Everything, internet of things, IoE, IoT, Metcalfe, network, network effects, unconnected

On May 24, 2012, the non-profit Sustainable Silicon Valley and its partners gathered at West Summit 2012, with hundreds of others, to explore interlocking themes: Global Trade, Regional Resilience, and Climate Volatility. The Summit featured high-caliber speakers and sponsors from corporations, governmental agencies, NGOs and educational institutions.

I was part of a panel entitled, “Leadership and Vision to Achieve Regional Resiliency,” which focused on the twin challenges facing cities — sustainability and resiliency. We honed in on best practices gleaned to date and how leaders can catalyze the deep transformation necessary to build a sustainable future. Read More »

Tags: Cisco, climate change, corporate leadership, IBSG, infrastructure, innovation, invention, investment, natural resources, public engagement, public policy, public sector leadership, resilience, Sustainability, urban

By Jason Kohn, Contributing Columnist

Like many of us, scientific researchers tend to be creatures of habit. This includes research teams working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. government agency charged with measuring the behavior of oceans, atmosphere, and weather.

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Tags: climate change, collaboration, noaa, research, science, supercomputer, weather