Open-access repository for sustainable software options

By Eric Zie, Founder, GoCodeGreen; Tim Smolcic, Director, Tech Sustainability Strategy, HSBC; and Thomas Basikolo, Programme Coordinator, ITU

Growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) and ever larger data centres continue driving up energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, despite the potential for digitalization to cut emissions across other sectors.

In a step toward long-term digital sustainability, partners from the tech industry have come together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to launch an open-access repository listing sustainable software practices worldwide.

The new repository enables access to practical, actionable solutions that can help digital developers, system architects, and any organization using technologies meet international standards, enhance efficiencies across their value chain, and reduce their environmental impact.

That makes it a vital asset as we approach the United Nations climate change conference, COP30.

Broadly, these next climate talks, hosted by Brazil, could intensify the spotlight on digital technologies – both as contributors to the global climate problem and potential supporters for communities unable to forego social and economic development.

The sustainable software repository arose out of the Green Digital Action initiative, which aims to unite the industry in the pursuit of climate-conscious innovation.

Green computing potential

Green Digital Action, launched in late 2023, has focused on reducing tech-related emissions, promoting sustainability standards, building a circular economy, and cross-sector enablement. Increasingly, the initiative has also tackled the challenges and opportunities of green computing – squarely addressing the impact of AI.

One expert group – focused on energy-efficient and sustainable software – designed and now curates the repository as a means to expand access to sustainable software practices globally.

Sustainable software is one of the most critical – and overlooked – levers for reducing digital emissions. Yet, guidance for building efficient, low-carbon systems is often fragmented and can be challenging to locate.

This first public release from the group marks a tangible step toward empowering developers and teams to take meaningful action across the software lifecycle.

The new repository enables access to practical, actionable solutions that can help digital developers, system architects, and any organization using technologies meet international standards, enhance efficiencies across their value chain, and reduce their environmental impact.

Another group, dedicated to sustainable AI, is identifying gaps in measurement and testing methods for AI workloads, as outlined in its recent first report: Measuring What Matters: How to Assess AI’s Environmental Impact.

Making knowledge accessible

The repository brings together leading guidance, principles, and engineering techniques addressing five core themes – Energy and Resource Efficiency, Software Architecture and Design, Sustainable Hardware and Infrastructure, Sustainable Development and Operations, and AI and Emerging Technologies – to ensure the best available knowledge is easy to access and apply.

Users with varying levels of technical expertise will be able to retrieve the information they need, with each resource organized on a technical level, helping users transition from awareness to implementation. The interface was reviewed and tested by engineers from various prominent organizations to ensure rigour, usability, and broad applicability.

By consolidating openly available resources in one place, it enables developers, architects, and organizations everywhere to take immediate, measurable steps towards cleaner, more efficient digital systems.

This contribution reflects the spirit of Green Digital Action: practical, collaborative, and aligned with global priorities. By making guidance accessible and actionable, it can help the tech-for-climate community move from aspiration to measurable emissions reduction, helping the digital sector accelerate meaningfully toward climate action.

This is an early step in the creation of a key technical resource – our growing library aimed at quantifying sustainability opportunities, deepening alignment with environmental standards, and enabling industry-wide adoption of digital climate solutions at scale.

We designed this resource to meet people wherever they are on that journey – whether seasoned engineers or just starting out. This is about accelerating adoption, avoiding complexity, and building software that works for both people and planet.

Collaborative insights

Of course, it could not have been done alone.

The new repository reflects collaborative engagement among engineers, architects, and infrastructure specialists, along with other industry experts and academia.

The group combines the perspectives of tech providers (Capgemini, Cognizant, GoCodeGreen, Mastek, Sage, PA Consulting), leading research hubs (Kings College London), and service-oriented companies undertaking ambitious digital transformations (Bupa, HSBC and Standard Bank).

All those participants contributed time and insights to help test, review, and shape the repository. Their commitment reflects a shared belief in the value of open, standards-aligned resources that can accelerate environmental progress across the software development lifecycle.

Explore the sustainable software guidelines.

Learn more about Green Digital Action.

Check out our COP30 programme.