Episodes

  • #45 - Assess digital sustainability’s maturity with Aiste Rugeviciute and Rob Price

    #45 - Assess digital sustainability’s maturity with Aiste Rugeviciute and Rob Price
    Sep 17 2024
    In the early 2020s, companies started facing a big question: how can they be more responsible in the digital world? Could something similar to CSR exist for this virtual and yet highly materialized world? Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) was coined to offer some much-needed guidance. 🎙️ To explore its ramification, Gaël DUEZ chats with two renowned experts in CDR: Aiste Rugeviciute, co-author of “B.A.-BA du Numérique Responsable” and now pursuing a PhD in the socio-ecological impacts of CDR strategies, and Rob Price, a key player in developing an international CDR framework. Rob also hosts the “A New Responsibility” podcast, diving deep into CDR's role in business. Some Takeaways: 🔑 the CDR framework in a nutshell, 🌿 the importance of embracing a balanced approach to CDR in most companies, and 🛠️ a sneak peek to the newly-released CDR maturity model.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • #44 - Can the data center industry become circular? with Deborah Andrews

    #44 - Can the data center industry become circular? with Deborah Andrews
    Sep 3 2024
    💭Fueled by the ongoing artificial intelligence boom, data centers are popping up around the world like mushrooms after a good rain raising serious sustainability concerns. Hence a pressing question: can the data center industry become circular? 🎙️To get some answers, Gaël Duez welcomes a veteran in Circular Economy and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, Prof. Deborah Andrews, from London South Bank University, the founder and academic lead for CEDaCI. Some Takeaways: 💡 how the CEDaCI Compass tool can help data center being equipped more sustainably, ♻️ current inadequacies in recycling infrastructure for electronic waste, and ⚡ concerns about the rapid development of AI and its energy demands
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    56 mins
  • #43 - Digital sustainability in a Tech behemoth: Japan with Trista Bridges and Paul Beddie

    #43 - Digital sustainability in a Tech behemoth: Japan with Trista Bridges and Paul Beddie
    Jul 16 2024
    💭 How can a country defining itself as an high-tech spearheader can embrace IT sustainability? Japan is a fascinating example of both the contradictions and the synergies that such a journey creates. 🎙️ In this episode, Gael Duez welcomes two long-time Japan-based experts: Paul Beddie, VP and Sustainability Lead at Capgemini, and Trista Bridges, the co-author of Leading Sustainably, and a member of EcoVadis' Purpose Committee. Their exchange on IT sustainability initiatives in Japan led to many takeaways including: 🤝 the stakeholder-oriented nature of Japanese society, 🌱 the emergence of Japanese startups focusing on sustainability, ⚖️ the role of regulations in driving sustainability efforts in Japan, And much more.
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    50 mins
  • #42 - Decarbonizing Tech: 2 CTO share their paths with Ludi Akue and Owen Rogers

    #42 - Decarbonizing Tech: 2 CTO share their paths with Ludi Akue and Owen Rogers
    Jul 2 2024
    💭Decarbonizing tech stacks and platforms? This is the challenge many CTO face these days. 🎙️In our 42th episode, 2 CTOs with different backgrounds and operating in different lines of business cross share their experience in reducing the environmental footprint of their operations. Ludi Akue, former Lunii’s CTO, and Owen Rogers, .eco’s CTO meet Gael Duez to share their insights and reflect on each other journeys in sustainability. Some Takeaways: 🌐 pro and con of migrating infrastructure to a lower carbon region, ⚙️ how to leverage technical debt to boost decarbonization, 💰 when does optimization pay for decarbonization, ⚠️ the pitfall of creating a separate program to steer sustainability, and much more!
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    56 mins
  • #41 - Decarbonizing AWS with Adrian Cockcroft

    #41 - Decarbonizing AWS with Adrian Cockcroft
    Jun 18 2024
    ☁️ What can AWS users achieve today in terms of decarbonization? And what can they expect tomorrow? 🎙️ In this episode, Gael Duez welcomes Adrian Cockcroft, the former creator and leader of the AWS sustainability team who now leads the Green Software Foundation project “Real Time Cloud”. They had an in-depth chat about measuring carbon for software and the sustainability challenges of Cloud providers, starting with AWS. Some of Adrian’s takeaways were: ⚡ The case for PPA and market based approach facing the AI energy-hungry boom ☀️ Why we should not chase the sun 🌱 Sustainability of the Cloud vs Sustainability in the Cloud and other architecture tips ☁️ His confidence in getting a standard for Cloud-based GHG emissions 🤝 Why AWS internal structure prevented sustainability to ramp-up and why it should change … And much more!
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • #40 - Triggering action in green software: a Nordic perspective with Satu Heikinheimo and Janne Kalliola

    #40 - Triggering action in green software: a Nordic perspective with Satu Heikinheimo and Janne Kalliola
    Jun 4 2024
    🤔 Why do we do so little to decarbonize software despite already knowing so much? 🎙️ In this episode, Gael Duez is joined by Janne Kalliola, author of "Green Code," together with Satu Heikinheimo, Planet Diplomats’ founder, to discuss how to trigger more actions among Tech people to reduce the carbon footprint of our code. 🌍 Both being based in Finland, a nice side-benefit of their exchange was exploring how the Nordic countries handle the environmental footprint of digital technology. Key takeaways: 🏃 trend of employees considering resigning if their company's values don't align with their own, 🤝 importance of collaboration among multidisciplinary teams to create sustainable digital products and services, ⚙️ concept of carbon-neutral software and the choice of focusing mostly on energy consumption, and 💡 Nordic approach to trust, self-organization, and low hierarchy in fostering psychological safety and agency for individuals to drive sustainable initiatives
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    53 mins
  • #39 - European Regulations in Tech: some insider perspectives with Kim Van Sparrentak and Max Schulze

    #39 - European Regulations in Tech: some insider perspectives with Kim Van Sparrentak and Max Schulze
    May 21 2024
    🔎 Major regulations have been built up in Europe these past years impacting the Tech sectors. How have they been built? What does it take to pass these kinds of bills in the unique European Union political system? And what are the consequences for the people working in the digital industry? 🎙️ This episode 39 welcomes Kim Van Sparrentak, a Member of the European Parliament involved in legislation related to tech and sustainability, and Max Schulze, the founder and chairman of the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance, one of the main lobby groups for more responsible technology. Together with Gael Duez, they share their perspective on the European regulations in Tech. Some points which have been discussed: ⚖️ the Artificial Intelligence Act, 🌱 Environmental transparency among actors, and 🤝 the Influence of big tech companies through lobbying
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    54 mins
  • #38 - Building Green Software with Sara Bergman

    #38 - Building Green Software with Sara Bergman
    May 7 2024
    🔎 What are the main angles to be covered when you truly want to design, run, and sometimes decommission, software, in the greenest possible way? 🎙️ In this episode, Sara Bergman, a seasoned software engineer and one of the acclaimed co-authors of the O’Reilly book “Building Green Software” joins Gael Duez to discuss the book, and more specifically the chapters on AI, measurements, and hardware. Some takeaways: 💻 Software people’s responsibility in utilizing hardware 🌡️ Concept of temperature-aware computing ☁️ Importance of major cloud providers 🌱 Some follow-up on the discussion on carbon-aware vs grid-aware computing for more effective environmental impact
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    43 mins