Technology & Communications
This sector relates to the following sub-sectors: Technology, Internet Media & Services, Semiconductors, Telecommunications
Internet Media & Services
Each section below relates to the TPT Disclosure Framework principles of Action and Accountability. The below provides further guidance for sub-elements 4.1 and 4.3. The TPT welcomes comments on this guidance to ensure it is as useful as possible for preparers and users. The text is open for comment until Friday, 24 November. Please select the feedback form at the bottom of the page. The final text will be updated in February.
The Internet Media & Services industry consists of two main segments. The Internet Media segment includes companies providing search engines and internet advertising channels, online gaming, and online communities such as social networks, as well as content, usually easily searchable, such as educational, medical, health, sports, or news content. The Internet-based Services segment includes companies selling services mainly through the Internet. The industry generates revenues primarily from online advertising, on usually free content, with other sources of revenue being subscription fees, content sales, or sale of user information to interested third parties.
1. Increase Energy Efficiency4, 7, 10
- implement energy efficiency plans, covering data centres, networks, buildings, and waste heat where relevant; and
- reduce electricity consumption by conducting energy efficiency audits, identifying energy and cost saving opportunities across offices and facilities.
2. Procure Renewable Energy4, 5, 10, 14
- switch to low-GHG emissions electricity supply and support provision of 24/7 low-GHG emissions electricity.
3. Engage with Supply Chain5, 12, 13, 14
- engage suppliers on their emissions reduction related goals, and disclosure of information on emissions performance, business strategy, energy use, targets, and water management on an annual basis.
4. Green Product Design5, 8
- provision of products and services with lower relative energy use and increased circularity.
5. Reducing Financed Emissions9
- reduce financed emissions and consider opportunities to fund and support climate innovation/solutions.
- (1) Total energy consumed, (2) percentage grid electricity and (3) percentage renewable (Gigajoules (GJ), Percentage (%);14
- (1) Amount of data storage, (2) percentage outsourced (Petabytes, Percentage (%);14
- Number of physical servers and networking equipment used;5
- Percentage reduction in electricity consumption across offices and facilities (%);5
- Cost of power consumption and cooling through the virtualisation of infrastructures ($);5
- Amount of software used to virtualise hardware layers (Memory Footprint in Bytes);5
- Expected emissions reduction broken down by activity (e.g., user devices, data centres, mobile networks, fixed networks, enterprise networks) (tCO2e)12
- Emissions through the life cycle of the product, and where in the life cycle most of the emissions occur (tCO2e)7
o Reduction of Scope 1 emissions due to changes in the design of the product
o Reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions due to changes in the manufacture of a good, or provision of a service
o Reduction of Scope 3 emissions in the use stage of a product
- Carbon Emissions from computing, storage, and networking infrastructure6
Internet Media and Services literature
- CDP, CDP Supplier Disclosure Letter, 2021
- Decarbonisation of Buildings, European Academies Science Advisory Council, 2019
- Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), Digital solutions for climate action, 2020
- Google, Operating on 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy by 2030
- GSMA and the Carbon Trust, The Enablement Effect, the impact of mobile communications technologies on carbon emissions reductions, 2019
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, ICT Sector Guidance built on the GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard, 2017
- International Energy Agency (IEA), 5 ways Big Tech could have big impacts on clean energy transitions, 2021
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), Greening digital companies, 2022
- McKinsey Sustainability, Developing products for a circular economy, 2016
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Guidance for ICT companies setting science-based targets, 2021
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Guidance for ICT companies setting science-based targets, 2021
- Tech UK, UK Data Centre Sector Energy Routemap, 2019
- The Carbon Bankroll, The Climate Impact and Untapped Power of Corporate Cash, 2022
- The Climate Drive, Optimize chiller efficiency with artificial intelligence
- IFRS, [Draft] Industry-based Guidance on Implementing IFRS S2, 2023
Your feedback
The TPT welcomes comments on the Sector Summary to ensure it is as useful as possible for preparers and users. The Sector Summary was open for comment until Friday 24 November and, following consideration of the feedback received, will be updated in February. Thank you to the industry experts who provided comments.
