About us – UK Government Sustainable ICT

The UK Government’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) estate is fundamental to the successful operation of government and the delivery of services which millions of people rely on every day. Yet the scale and complexity of this estate can also create significant sustainability (environmental, social and economic) risks and opportunities affecting the whole of the UK. For example, UK government ICT produces an estimated 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, as well as generating nearly 1,000 tonnes of ICT waste.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rual Affairs (Defra) leads on the sustainability of UK government’s digital and ICT estate on behalf of the Government Digital Service (GDS) in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Defra strives to be a role model in this space, being the first government department to launch its own Digital Sustainability Strategy and produce the soon to be published Digital Sustainability Actions.

The Defra Digital Sustainability team collects and analyses data from each department about their digital sustainability performance. This includes data relating to the ICT sections of the Greening Government Commitments  and is summarised in a annual report setting out the progress made towards making digital services and technologies in government more sustainable.

The UK Government has set out a number of strategic priorities where effort will be focused over the coming years. These priorities, derived from the upcoming Government Digital Sustainability Strategy, will be underpinned by measurable targets.

These strategic priorities for UK government’s ICT estate are:

1. Circularity and waste reduction
2. Net zero and emissions reduction
3. Addressing wider planetary impacts beyond carbon
4. Social risk management and social value
5. Climate resilience of governments digital estate
6. Sustainable disruptive and innovative technologies
7. Embedding digital sustainability into business as usual

Defra chairs the cross government digital sustainability steering group which brings together representatives from central government departments, ALBs, devolved nations and the wider public sector who have responsibility for digital sustainability within their organisations. The purpose of the steering group is to ensure UK Government has a coordinated approach to ICT and digital sustainability.

Defra also brings together a cross government digital sustainability community of practice made up of people across government and the wider public sector with an interest in the environmental and social impacts of ICT and digital services, and what can be done to avoid or reduce them.

Defra co-ordinates the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA), an advisory group of over 100 technology suppliers, specialists, academics and third sector organisations drive progress on digital sustainability outcomes for the UK government and its supply chain.

If you would like more information on digital sustainability in government or are interested in joining one of these groups, please contact sustainableict@defra.gov.uk