Businesses in Ireland are becoming overwhelmed by environmental regulatory obligations, suggests research from the Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey. Two in three (66%) IT decision-makers in Ireland admit that they are finding new environmental regulations a challenge, while 42% said there are now too many regulations to comply with. Announcing these findings, Equinix is also providing insights into its own sustainability initiatives in Ireland.
Equinix’s survey, which included 100 IT decision-makers in Ireland, explored IT leaders’ attitudes towards sustainability and their regulatory obligations. In April of this year, the EU’s Effort Sharing Regulation, which transformed the targets of the Clean Energy Package into binding annual targets for each Member State for the period 2021–2030, was amended and Ireland’s new target is now to limit its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42% by 2030. Additionally, policy initiatives from the Union’s European Green Deal began to roll out in 2022, with more to come as the EU seeks carbon neutrality by 2050. However, IT departments appear to be struggling with the volume and speed at which regulations such as these are being introduced, with 39% of respondents saying they are changing too quickly.
Reflecting the commitment and investment involved in paving the road to Net Zero, 49% of IT leaders said new and upcoming regulations will require major changes to business practices, while 47% said they would lead to an increased cost in management. Additionally, highlighting the ongoing IT skills shortage facing businesses in Ireland and across the globe, 44% of those surveyed said they lack the necessary skills internally to meet these challenges.
Equinix’s research shed light on the role that technology is playing in helping organisations to meet new green standards, with 60% of IT leaders said that they are using automation to manage changes and updates to regulations. Meanwhile, 70% are using advanced technologies such as big data and machine learning to optimise their sustainability efficiencies.
As the world’s leading digital infrastructure provider, Equinix is helping businesses to harness transformative technologies and use them in the collective movement towards a sustainable future. Equinix is committed to responsible growth, for itself and its customers, and continues to advance its bold sustainability agenda to reflect the company’s values across environmental, social and governance initiatives.
Helping to reduce its customers’ scope 2 and 3 emissions, Equinix is making continuous efficiency improvements of 5% year-on-year though innovations and upgrades inside its data centres in Dublin. It is also giving capacity back to the electricity grid by using its own back-up supply of power during periods of high demand. It does this using natural gas generators. While Equinix is committed to investing in the production of renewable biomethane gas in Ireland, natural gas is recognised by the International Energy Agency as the best available backup energy source in the global transition to renewable electricity. Meanwhile, in collaboration with local authorities and Codema, Equinix is currently exploring the feasibility of a district heating solution that will reuse waste data centre heat for the provision of the year-round heating requirements of vital infrastructure in Dublin’s Blanchardstown area.
Equinix is committed to meeting and exceeding all environmental regulations and standards that apply to it. The company adheres to the Government of Ireland’s Principles for Sustainable Data Centre Development and welcomes the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive, which as of May 2024, will require data centre operators to submit annual reports on their energy performance for the previous year. Equinix is a founding member of the EU Climate Neutral Data Centre Operator Pact and has pledged to be climate neutral by 2030, backed by a near-term, science-based target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Peter Lantry, Managing Director for Ireland, Equinix, said: “We are entering a new era of industry where green credentials will be front and centre of everything a business does – to the point where unsustainable businesses will struggle to succeed. While an increase in environmental obligations can be daunting, meeting them must now be viewed as a normal part of doing business. Without them, we will simply not be able to turn the tide on climate change.
“It is encouraging to see that the majority of IT leaders are using technology to help them to manage regulations. It reflects a larger trend that sees technology unlocking solutions to sustainability challenges. Digital infrastructure will have a key role to play in this, ensuring businesses can deploy game-changing technology solutions with agility and speed.
“At Equinix, we are ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability, adhering to and exceeding international standards, as well as meeting our own internal targets. This enables us to set a new standard for the data centre industry, while also ensuring we help customers to meet their obligations by continuously reducing our carbon footprint.”