As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change and environmental challenges, the role of chief sustainability officer has risen to greater prominence. Mattie Yeta, chief sustainability officer at technology and business consultancy, CGI (pictured) has been navigating this complex landscape, bridging the gap between digital technology and sustainability.
“I started my career in sustainability and worked in finance for several years, and then switched my career to digital technology,” she shared in a fireside chat at this week’s landmark Think Digital Sustainability for Government event. “Through that, I began to do the jobs between sustainability, it’s been a very, very interesting journey.”
This intersection of digital and sustainability is where Yeta has found her passion. “There’s a really strong link between digital sustainability and what people would class as overall sustainability,” she explained. “It’s just the context in how they describe things.”
One example is the issue of modern slavery and human rights within the digital technology sector. “We talk about 66 different minerals found within our laptops. And those minerals are linked to conflict… and actually linked to then human rights, modern slavery,” she said.
The impact of digital technologies on the environment is another area of concern for Yeta. “We say that 14 percent of the world’s global emissions will come from digital technologies by 2040 which is quite significant,” she said. “AI, Blockchain, quantum computing – all of those are going to contribute to the challenges we have on the Net Zero science based targets.”
However, Yeta also sees the potential for digital technologies to play a role in addressing sustainability challenges. “Digital technologies will contribute 20 percent reduction of emissions by 2050,” she said. “I think there is no avoiding the role that technology plays within the context of sustainability.”
Breaking down walls
Yeta’s approach to digital sustainability goals focuses on five key areas: research and innovation, climate action and environment, partnering with suppliers and communities, governance, and nature and biodiversity.
“We’ve got, for example, a programme called SEEDS [Sustainability Exploration and Environmental Data Science], where we partner with 40 universities within the UK to really drive cutting edge research and innovation,” she said.
“We are researching topics like Quantum Computing, the role that plays from an energy perspective, but also how we can develop solutions that can help the UK decarbonise overall, and several other innovations.”
When it comes to engaging colleagues within CGI, Yeta emphasises the importance of recognising progress and celebrating wins.
“We really must celebrate that, because it’s incredibly tough for people in sustainability, and I recognise that,” she said. “But also I think we do need to plan, and we do need to think critically about who’s there within the organisation, and how can we leverage those – not forgetting about that strong centre, because ultimately, everything’s got to come to the centre”
Yeta acknowledges that some of the most frustrating conversations involve explaining complex sustainability concepts, such as net zero and climate change.
“I quite understand employees that are still struggling to understand the concept of Net Zero and climate change and how that works, but I think the toughest conversations are always when… somebody’s got their wall up.”
To make these topics more relatable, Yeta draws on real-world examples. “We get the ‘So what? Why should I really care about that?’ But then you say, ‘Your mobile phone’s got 66 different minerals, and you’re going to have to find those minerals from somewhere. They’re coming from the earth and being able to explain that journey of extracting those minerals, transporting them, turning them into value and the energy associated with that, and then ultimately using the devices… and how far they’ve come, and then throwing it away with all the 66 valuable minerals within that, that’s one good example.”
As Yeta continues to navigate the complex landscape of digital sustainability, her experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for organisations seeking to make meaningful progress in this critical area.
