Make tech greener, CIOs told

Government computer systems must become greener to set a good example for the rest of the country, public sector tech chiefs have been warned.

Speaking at a European e-government conference in Lisbon, Cabinet Office minister Gillian Merron called on the UK's CIO Council to reduce the carbon footprint of government computers and improve the sustainability of public sector IT.

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Merron said that worldwide, IT is responsible for about one billion tonnes of CO2 emissions each year - between two and four per cent of global energy - and the public sector is the biggest user of IT in the UK, spending around £12bn per year.

She said the government has a responsibility to set a positive example on the environment. This doesn't just mean reducing the amount of electricity used but also looking at how systems can be designed and built in ways that consume fewer materials and which make recycling easier, she said.

Government CIO John Suffolk said there is real potential to deliver more sustainable IT that also costs less and provides better results for users. New technologies can help reduce energy consumption and allow more flexible working.

He said in a statement: "There is already some excellent practice in place and we look forward to working with the IT industry to build on this and to deliver continued improvements in the future."

The CIO Council will now work with the Information Age Partnership to look at how government can work with the industry to put public sector IT onto a more sustainable footing, and will publish an initial report in 2008.