NTT DATA in partnership with Green Software Foundation guides the development of a new international standard called Software Carbon Intensity

Software Carbon Intensity

SCI is a standard method of measuring carbon footprint generated by software by tracking its hardware and electricity demands. With SCI, calculations can be performed determining the carbon intensity of the consumed electricity, thus deriving the actual CO2e emissions. SCI empowers companies to better understand the carbon emissions generated by software, compare the environmental impact of similar software systems, assess the carbon impact from modifications to applications, and to drive towards a decreased carbon footprint for the greater good of society.

"As a steering member of the Green Software Foundation(GSF), we are proud to have played a key role in the development of the Software Carbon Intensity(SCI) specification, which has now become the international standard ISO/IEC 21031:2024. We are committed to promoting the widespread adoption of SCI across our clients and within our internal systems to build a carbon-aware approach to software development and accelerate the decarbonization of IT systems. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with GSF to establish new standards and tooling that will help reduce the carbon footprint of software and create a positive impact on the planet," said Yoshiko Ikeda, Senior Vice President, Head of Sustainability Innovation Department, NTT DATA Group Corporation.

An initial version of the SCI specification was piloted in December 2021, which then went through rigorous testing. The latest version of the SCI specification has been published and is available here.

Future Plans

While SCI is a useful tool for decarbonizing IT systems, the challenge has been widespread adoption of Environmental, Social, Governance(ESG) goals across various regions. With the recent ISO standardization, it is anticipated that more companies and organizations will adopt SCI. Through a variety of Sustainability Services, NTT DATA helps companies around the world define and evolve their ESG goals, while leveraging SCI to accelerate decarbonization of the software systems. Additionally, NTT DATA leverages SCI with its own software development and across internal IT systems to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with its ambitious corporate sustainability strategy.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. We invest over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have diverse experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and startup companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure, and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group and headquartered in Tokyo. Visit us at nttdata.com.