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Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. These changes have a broad range of observed effects that are synonymous with the term.
Changes observed in Earth’s climate since the mid-20th century are driven by human activities, particularly fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere, raising Earth’s average surface temperature. Natural processes, which have been overwhelmed by human activities, can also contribute to climate change, including internal variability (e.g., cyclical ocean patterns like El Niño, La Niña and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation) and external forcings (e.g., volcanic activity, changes in the Sun’s energy output, variations in Earth’s orbit).
Scientists use observations from the ground, air, and space, along with computer models, to monitor and study past, present, and future climate change. Climate data records provide evidence of climate change key indicators, such as global land and ocean temperature increases; rising sea levels; ice loss at Earth’s poles and in mountain glaciers; frequency and severity changes in extreme weather such as hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and precipitation; and cloud and vegetation cover changes.
“Climate change” and “global warming” are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings. Similarly, the terms “weather” and “climate” are sometimes confused, though they refer to events with broadly different spatial- and timescales.
Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s surface observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere. This term is not interchangeable with the term “climate change.”
Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average temperature by about 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by more than 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. The current warming trend is unequivocally the result of human activity since the 1950s and is proceeding at an unprecedented rate over millennia.
Weather refers to atmospheric conditions that occur locally over short periods of time—from minutes to hours or days. Familiar examples include rain, snow, clouds, winds, floods, or thunderstorms.
Climate, on the other hand, refers to the long-term (usually at least 30 years) regional or even global average of temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns over seasons, years, or decades.
This website provides a high-level overview of some of the known causes, effects and indications of global climate change:
Evidence. Brief descriptions of some of the key scientific observations that our planet is undergoing abrupt climate change.
Causes. A concise discussion of the primary climate change causes on our planet.
Effects. A look at some of the likely future effects of climate change, including U.S. regional effects.
Vital Signs. Graphs and animated time series showing real-time climate change data, including atmospheric carbon dioxide, global temperature, sea ice extent, and ice sheet volume.
Earth Minute. This fun video series explains various Earth science topics, including some climate change topics.
Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio. An extensive collection of animated climate change and Earth science visualizations.
Sea Level Change Portal. NASA’s portal for an in-depth look at the science behind sea level change.
NASA’s Earth Observatory. Satellite imagery, feature articles and scientific information about our home planet, with a focus on Earth’s climate and environmental change.
_{Header image is of Apusiaajik Glacier, and was taken near Kulusuk, Greenland, on Aug. 26, 2018, during NASA’s Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) field operations. Learn more here. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech}
Explore Earth Science
Earth Science in Action
Earth Science Data
Facts About Earth
NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.

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Saving Alnmouth from rising seas and coastal erosion complicated by links course being on private land
For most golfers, the most damage a furious wind can do is to your handicap – and, if you are really unfortunate, your car windshield.
But visitors to Alnmouth village golf club in Northumberland have to contend with the prospect of storms and rising sea levels consigning the oldest nine-hole links course in the country to history.
There are fears that the historic golfing attraction will disappear as a result of coastal erosion, the undefended area closest to the sea near the fifth hole is especially at risk.
“I don’t think in another 100 years we will be playing golf here, I think it’s changed that much in the last 30 years,” said the club secretary Ian Simpson, who has been a member for more than a decade.
Simpson’s daughter, Emelia, who is club manager, added: “No one wants to play on an eight-hole golf course.”
Built in 1869 by the Scottish golfer Mungo Park, it is classed as being in an area of natural outstanding beauty (AONB) and it counts the Northern Irish professional Ronan Rafferty and the former Dutch football international Ruud Gullit among its past members. The club said at least 25 to 30 yards of the course closest to the sea had eroded, with bath houses that lined up along the boundaries being washed away and about 10ft of sand having been lost by the second and third tee.
Valerie Barkley, a member of four years, said golf was the only sport she liked and being part of a strong female representation at the club – which has about 10,000 visitors a year.
She said: “The ladies section meet on Wednesday and play competitions. I’m on the committee, we’ve brought friends that have gone on to join. If it was to go it would be awful, I’m rather selfishly hoping not in my lifetime.”
Ian Simpson has suggested rock armour, which is used in harbours to defend coastlines, may solve the issue but matters had been complicated by the fact that the club is on private land owned by the Duke of Northumberland and maintained by patrons, the burgage holders of Alnmouth Common. The club cannot drastically alter the makeup of the coastline without permission.
The climate campaign group One Home sees the golf club, and neighbouring village, as symbols for wider trends of losing sporting, recreation, heritage and religious sites along the whole of English coast.
Angela Terry, the chief executive of One Home, said: “On top of these losses, infrastructure including roads and landfill sites, businesses and homes are falling into the sea at an accelerating rate.
“The government’s response is to pass responsibility between overstretched and often bankrupt local authorities and the Environment Agency teams who are working desperately hard to hold back the sea but it’s a losing battle due to sea level rise and stronger storms.”
Terry added that it was unlikely that any national coast erosion risk maps were updated with climate projections or land losses seen on the ground.
The Environment Agency points to funding awarded in February to Northumberland county council to enforce flood management and coastal erosion control and use as it sees fit.
A spokesperson for the council said protecting private land from coastal erosion was the responsibility of the landowner but contact had been made with Alnmouth golf club to offer advice on short-term solutions while longer term implications were being considered.
They added: “The majority of funding for coastal defence works comes from the Environment Agency and usually, to attract sufficient funding for a scheme to be viable, residential properties must be protected.”
Martin Swinbank, Green councillor for the local Alnwick ward, said a 100-year shoreline management plan, which runs from the Scottish border to the River Tyne, was launched in 2009. It aimed to intervene in the area where the club was based but the climate crisis accelerated by “human activity” – burning fossil fuels – had reinforced coastal erosion.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Conservative MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, said she had written to the culture and environment secretaries to seek their support to protect the club from the risk of coastal erosion.
She added: “While our unique Northumberland landscape is breathtakingly beautiful, it presents us with challenges too, which I will continue to take up with the government and other responsible bodies on behalf of my constituents.”

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Rough Draft Atlanta
Hyperlocal news for metro Atlanta
Sustainability efforts within the city of Dunwoody have proven to be popular and successful, with several programs implemented and others on the calendar. 
The second year of the partnership between Trees Atlanta and Dunwoody has concluded successfully with all 80 trees that were available for “adoption” claimed. 
The Front Tree program provides free trees to homeowners to be planted within 35 feet of a right-of-way. In its first year, according to city officials, 54 trees were planted, and this year, requests for 80 trees were swiftly claimed.  
“We had complete support for the program from the city council and immediate buy-in from residents, who rushed to fill out online applications,” Dunwoody Community Development Director Richard McLeod said. “This program furthers our goal of protecting and building up Dunwoody’s tree canopy.” 
Trees Atlanta, a non-profit committed to the care and replenishment of metro Atlanta’s urban forest, manages the processing of tree requests and coordinate with each homeowner for the selection, placement, and installation of up to two front yard trees per yard through this program, according to a statement released by the city. 
Dunwoody has been recognized for its urban forest management efforts for more than a decade. The city was recognized for the 12^th consecutive year as a “Tree City USA” and in February celebrated the designation with a ceremonial tree planting at Windward Hollow Park on Georgia Arbor Day. 
“We remain committed to protecting our tree canopy and finding new ways to enhance it,” Dunwoody Arborist Amy Bledsoe said. “Trees benefit our community by improving air quality, increasing property values, reducing stress levels, and providing wildlife with important habitats.” 
 Dunwoody achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and hosting an Arbor Day observance with a written proclamation. 
“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, said. “The trees being planted and cared for by Dunwoody are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life.” 
Since 2013, the city has worked with Trees Atlanta and community volunteers to plant more than 2,000 trees in Dunwoody, including 125 during this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.  
The city has also scheduled another household hazardous waste recycling event on May 4, to be held in the parking lot of Dunwoody City Hall at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road. 
This free event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is for Dunwoody residents only. Residents must register and select a drop-off time online at www.dunwoodyga.gov/waste. 
During last year’s household hazardous waste recycling event, 415 residents participated, according to city officials. More than 17,060 pounds of latex paint, 3,395 pounds of pesticides, 531 pounds of antifreeze, 107 pounds of lithium batteries, and 12 fire extinguishers were dropped off. 
Acceptable items include oil and latex paints, stains, paint thinner, automobile batteries, household batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, diesel, household cleaners, pool chemicals, household chemicals, pesticides, flammables, and corrosives. 
Items that will not be accepted include agricultural wastes, bio-hazardous/bio-medical waste, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials, smoke detectors, cylinders of acetylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, and refrigerant gases. 
Residents will need to bring proof of residency to the event.  
Cathy Cobbs covers Dunwoody for Reporter Newspapers and Rough Draft Atlanta. She can be reached at cathy@roughdraftatlanta.com More by Cathy Cobbs
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HID recently announced its 2024 State of the Security Industry Report, which gathered responses from 2,600 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel worldwide, across a range of job titles and organization sizes representing over 11 industries.
The 2024 State of Security Report delves into the underlying concerns driving upcoming innovations and the technologies that underpin them, helping security leaders to be proactive in adapting to evolving challenges. Conducted in the fall of 2023, this year’s survey reveals six themes, as follows:
1. Mobile identity is expected to be ubiquitous in the next five years
Given the widespread use of mobile devices, momentum continues to build around their use in support of identity. Within the next five years, surveyed end users state that nearly 80% of organizations will deploy mobile IDs. Industry partners are even more optimistic in their outlook, stating that 94% of their customers will have deployed mobile IDs.

2. Multi-Factor Authentication is widespread, despite slow but growing implementation of Zero Trust
More than 83% of end users respondents said their organization currently uses Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), mainly due to the vulnerabilities of passwords. For many, this represents the first step on the longer journey toward Zero Trust, an approach to security that calls for organizations to maintain strict access controls and to never trust, always verify anyone – internal or external – by default. Zero Trust has been implemented in 16% of organizations with over 100,000 employees and 14% in those with up to 10,000 employees, according to the survey.
With MFA being widespread, the eventual end of passwords is imminent. The creation of new standards such as FIDO (Fast Identity Online), which uses “standard public key cryptography techniques to provide phishing-resistant authentication,” will pave the path to new and more secure authentication options that will be part of a more robust Zero Trust architecture.
3. Sustainability becomes a growing driver in business decisions
Among HID’s survey respondents, sustainability continues to rank high as a business priority, with both end users and partners rating its importance at a “4” on a 1-to-5 scale. Additionally, 74% of end users indicate the importance of sustainability has grown over the past year, and 80% of partners reported the trend growing in importance among their customers.
As such, there will likely be a continued emphasis on solutions that minimize energy use, reduce waste, and optimize resource usage. A shift to cloud-based solutions and increased use of mobile devices are two clear strategies to reach these sustainability goals.
4. Biometrics continues its impressive momentum
In this year’s survey, 39% of installers and integrators said their customers are using fingerprint or palm print, and 30% said they’re using facial recognition. The momentum continues to build as 8% plan to test or implement some form of biometrics in the next year and 12% plan to do so in the next three to five years.
5. Identity management points up to the cloud
Nearly half of end users are moving to cloud-based identity management, with 24% already using it and another 24% in the process of implementing such systems. Industry partners say their customers face several hurdles here, including existing reliance on legacy/on-prem equipment (28%), lack of budget (24%), and cloud-based identities simply not being a business priority (21%).
6. The rise of artificial intelligence for analytics use cases
Conversations about AI have come to dominate the business landscape, and many security professionals see AI’s analytic capabilities as the low-hanging fruit to enhance identity management. Rather than looking to AI to inform the entirety of the security system, it’s possible to leverage data analytics as a way to operationalize AI in support of immediate outcomes. In this scenario, 35% of end users reported they will be testing or implementing some AI capability in the next three to five years, with 15% already using AI-enabled biometrics.
The full report includes additional global data and further analysis. Read it in its entirety here .

When you run or own a business that has multiple locations, it is important to set clear perimeter security standards. By doing this, it allows you to assess and mitigate any potential threats or risks at each site or location efficiently and effectively. Read Now
HID recently announced its 2024 State of the Security Industry Report, which gathered responses from 2,600 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel worldwide, across a range of job titles and organization sizes representing over 11 industries. Read Now
Security Today is pleased to announce the 2024 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now
It’s hard to believe, but ISC West 2024 is almost here. This year’s show will take place April 9-12 at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Campus Security & Life Safety and Security Today staff will be on hand to provide live updates about the security industry’s latest innovations, trends, and products. Whether you’re attending the show or keeping tabs on it from afar, we’ve got you covered. Make sure to follow the Live from ISC West 2024 page for photos, videos, interviews, product demonstrations, announcements, commentary, and more from the heart of the show floor! Read Now
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The Q Series cameras are equipped with an Open Platform chipset for easy and seamless integration with third-party systems and solutions, and analog video output (CVBS) support for easy camera positioning during installation. A suite of on-board intelligent video analytics covers tampering, directional/virtual line detection, defocus detection, enter/exit, and motion detection. 3
Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3
Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

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Fostering sustainability in the workplace  Kennedys Law
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October 10, 2023 11:41 ET | Source: Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center
West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center is getting into the Halloween spirit by offering Palm Beach County’s first-ever haunted car wash experience! The Haunted Car Wash will take place at Mint Eco’s brand-new location, 1890 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard in West Palm Beach, near I-95 and the Tanger Outlets. 
The Haunted Car Wash will be a special two-night event only: Monday, October 30, and Tuesday, October 31. Family-friendly hours will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days and scarier thrills for adults from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event is FREE for everyone, including a FREE car wash. Donations are optional and will go directly to benefit the West Palm Beach Police Fund.
“We’re excited to be the first car wash to bring a Haunted Car Wash to Palm Beach County,” said Founder and CEO Geoffrey Jervis. “More importantly, this event gives us an opportunity to support our local police and their families in a tangible way. We have a saying here at Mint Eco: ‘If you wear Kevlar for me, we wash your car for free.’ Opportunities where we can identify additional ways to be contributing members of our community are always at the forefront of our minds. Not only will this event benefit our local heroes, but it gives us a special occasion to live up to our mission of making people happy and providing an exciting, safe way for families and friends to celebrate Halloween.”
The Fund for West Palm Beach Police (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) company) was created to serve and protect the very people who ensure that the community remains a safe, vibrant world-class city. The goal of The Fund is to supplement operational needs and financial limitations for West Palm Beach’s finest. “We are grateful to Mint Eco for their creative idea to support The Fund this year and create a unique experience that is safe and fun for the whole family,” shared Allan Adelson, Board Chair for The Fund. “We appreciate all their support to date through their washing all police cars for free and participating in our other annual fundraising events. We hope that this event becomes something that the community can look forward to every year!”
Additional details for this event include:

About Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center
“All Progress Occurs Because People Dare to be Different.” Fortune Cookie ~2010.
Mint Eco Car Wash and Detail Center was founded to be different. Different starts with our mission statement: “We exist to make people happy. We do not get out of bed to wash cars…we get out of bed to make people happy. Happiness is delivered through an experience that goes well beyond any physical service that we provide.”
Different includes with our products and services. Mint Eco not only offers modern, state-of-the-art tunnels with free vacuums but also offers interior services, detailing services and a spa-inspired lobby, retail store. Most importantly, Mint Eco prides itself on delivering an extraordinary experience to all its Members and Guests through unparalleled customer service.
Different is exemplified by our employees. Our physical plant and services can only go so far…it is our employees who truly deliver the Mint Eco Experience.  While we are certainly proud of our pay being the highest in the industry and the benefits that we offer, such as healthcare and free English classes, what differentiates us is our hiring, training and development program. This program is designed to identify employees who want to be a part of our “MoveMINT”…to be different…to change an industry.
Different is being an active member of the Community. We sweat with our neighbors as we clean neighborhood parks and beaches. We support our neighboring educational institutions, religious organizations and charities with donations. We wash first responder cars for free and always make our bathrooms and lobbies are available to first responders on shift. 
Different is being a steward of the Environment. We believe that business and the environment can both thrive together…we call ourselves “tree-hugging capitalists.” We believe that a business that takes care of the environment is not only doing the right thing but also will be rewarded for it by its customers.
Awards:
2022 Best Car Wash & Detail Center in Palm Beach County (Palm Beach Post)
2023 Best Car Wash & Detail Center in Palm Beach County (Palm Beach Post)
2023 Top Places to Work in Southeast Florida (Sun Sentinel)
2022 Small Business CEO of the Year (Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches)
2023 Environmental Business of the Year Runner-Up (Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches)
2023 Environmental Business of the Year Runner-Up (North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce)
3x Winner Patriot Award from the Department of Defense (Support of Veterans, the Guard and Reserve)
Seven Seals Award from the Department of Defense (Support of Veterans, the Guard and Reserve)
2023 National Car Wash Solutions Wash Forward Award (Environmental Advancement of the Industry)
2022 Best Car Wash & Detail Center – Regional Winner (Best of Florida)
2023 Best Car Wash & Detail Center (Best of Florida)
Locations:
Mint Eco currently operates four car washes in Palm Beach County, owns eight car wash properties, and plans to develop 50 locations over the next several years. 
Open: Mint Eco Car Wash West Palm Beach Southend (316 Southern Boulevard)
Open: Mint Eco Car Wash Okeechobee/FL-Turnpike West (1950 Golden Lakes Boulevard)
Open: Mint Eco Car Wash Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard (1890 Palm Beach Lakes)
Open: Mint Eco Car Wash Jupiter (220 Maplewood Drive)
Coming Soon: Southern Boulevard, Forest Hill Boulevard, Lake Worth Road, West Atlantic Avenue, Woolbright Road, Blue Heron Boulevard, Northlake and Coconut Boulevard and Okeechobee Boulevard.
To learn more, visit mintecocarwash.com/locations. 
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In the oil and gas industry, issues like energy waste, environmental impact, operational inefficiencies, and safety concerns have long been at the forefront of industry discussions. However, the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) provides hope, as it offers innovative solutions to tackle these challenges head-on. IoT technology presents a promising avenue to not only improve the efficiency and safety of oil and gas operations but also to reduce their environmental footprint significantly.
Most oil and gas companies (more than 75%) intend to increase their utilization of IoT solutions in the current year to gain a deeper understanding of their sustainability efforts. Besides, over 80% of these companies consider IoT tools crucial for improving their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, which measures their environmental impact regarding greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental factors. These statistics clearly show us that there is a strong and growing interest in using IoT technology to support sustainability and environmental goals within the oil and gas industry.
Thus, in this article, we’ll explore how IoT is poised to revolutionize the industry, addressing these pressing concerns while fostering a more sustainable future. Stay tuned and keep reading.
In our contemporary world, the demand for sustainable solutions has never been more acute, and IoT stands as a powerful instrument for addressing this need. IoT technology finds application across a diverse spectrum of industries, such as manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, transportation, and oil and gas.
In the oil and gas industry specifically, IoT refers to using interconnected sensors, devices, and equipment to collect and transmit real-time data from operations such as drilling, production, and distribution. This data helps improve efficiency and safety by allowing remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and better decision-making, which, in turn, significantly influences sustainability.
Considering that in 2022, the global market for the IoT in the oil and gas industry had a total value of USD 11.2 billion, the IoT market in the oil and gas industry is expected to grow, as it is further projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7% from the year 2023 to 2032.
The gas and oil industry is actively looking for ways to be greener. IoT definitely has the power to transform the gas and oil industry by making it more sustainable and eco-friendly. Let’s explore how IoT is making a difference in this sector:
IoT devices, like sensors and drones, monitor various aspects of oil and gas operations. This real-time data helps identify and address issues promptly, reducing the risk of leaks, spills, and other environmental incidents, especially in situations like underwater gas leak detection.
For instance, Shell, a global energy giant, has adopted IoT technology to monitor its oil and gas facilities. Through IoT sensors and devices, Shell improves operational efficiency, ensures environmental safety, and advances sustainability in the industry.
IoT solutions in the oil and gas sector collect a wealth of data from various sources, including sensors on drilling equipment, pipelines, and production facilities. This data includes information on temperature, pressure, flow rates, equipment performance, and environmental conditions. IoT-generated data allows for more efficient drilling techniques, predicting and preventing equipment failures, optimizing equipment performance, and reducing energy consumption and operational costs, ultimately leading to greater environmental sustainability and improved overall efficiency.
For instance, Chevron, one of the world’s major energy companies, has entered into a 7-year partnership with Microsoft to adopt IoT technologies, which will assist Chevron in leveraging real-time data and advanced analytics for optimizing its operations, including exploration, reservoir management, production, logistics, and marketing efforts.
IoT enhances energy efficiency in the gas and oil industry by allowing real-time monitoring and control of lighting, heating, and cooling systems, adjusting them based on occupancy and operational needs, thus reducing energy waste. Predictive maintenance for HVAC systems ensures they operate efficiently, preventing energy loss due to equipment malfunctions.
Continuous energy monitoring and analytics help identify opportunities for improvement, and IoT technology optimizes the gas-to-liquid conversion process, reducing gas flaring and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Besides, it streamlines supply chain logistics, minimizing energy consumption in transportation and storage, and improves the precision and responsiveness of environmental controls.
Let’s look at the case of British Petroleum (BP), one of the world’s largest energy companies. BP has harnessed IoT and machine learning to revolutionize its fuel stations. In Germany, BP introduced crewless diesel stations equipped with IoT sensors that continuously monitor environmental variables and equipment conditions, sending data to the cloud. This proactive approach allows early detection of issues, preventing disruptions and reducing maintenance costs.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, BP introduced “Talk2Me,” an AI-powered support system that uses natural language processing and Alexa to provide instant answers to technicians’ common questions. This innovative approach has reduced help desk calls by 40%, improving efficiency, enhancing the customer experience, and marking the start of a broader company-wide exploration of IoT and machine learning to modernize operations and improve customer satisfaction.
All advantages that were mentioned above, such as real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance of equipment, early detection of safety-critical events, and immediate alerts to response teams, significantly improve safety in the gas and oil industry by reducing the risk of accidents and hazardous incidents. It allows remote monitoring, minimizing human exposure to high-risk areas, and ensures compliance with safety and environmental standards. Wearable IoT devices also improve personnel safety by detecting abnormal conditions and providing timely alerts.
High initial implementation costs can be a significant barrier to adopting IoT solutions. Deploying IoT infrastructure, sensors, and devices often entails substantial upfront investments in hardware, software, and the necessary skilled workforce. These initial costs can strain a company’s budget and financial resources. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to recognize that, over time, the efficiency gains, cost savings, and operational improvements facilitated by IoT often far outweigh the initial expenses, contributing to sustainable and long-term success in the industry.
One more barrier that arises is security concerns. Did you know that 98% of all IoT device communication occurs without encryption, leaving personal and sensitive data vulnerable on the network? This alarming statistic highlights the significant data security and privacy concerns surrounding the IoT. Without proper encryption measures, attackers can eavesdrop on unencrypted network traffic, intercepting personal or confidential information.
The rapid evolution of IoT technologies heavily influences future trends in the oil and gas industry. Some key upcoming trends include:
One noteworthy development is the concept of “Digital Twins,” where virtual replicas of physical assets or processes are created using real-time IoT data to improve decision-making and optimize performance. 
These trends definitely represent the industry’s ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability, safety, and operational efficiency.
Kseniia Vyshyvaniuk is a highly experienced content manager and tech writer at KITRUM, a software development company. With over 5 years of experience in the industry, she is a true tech geek and stays up-to-date w
 
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Intelligent CIO Europe
Providing Unparalleled Technology Intelligence
In Part Two of this Editor’s Question, we gain further insight from experts at SMS, Building Minds and Stellium Datacenters, as well as how CIOs must balance environmental promises and challenges.
According to Gartner, the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) need to be balanced against the environmental implications and unintended consequences arising from hardware, model training and energy consumption. CIOs can use their digital knowledge and foundation to support the sustainability efforts of their organisations when implementing AI initiatives.
“Gartner’s 2023 CEO survey showed that environmental issues entered the top 10 priority ranking for the first time in the history of the survey,” said Bettina Tratz-Ryan, VP Analyst at Gartner. “At the same time, CIOs are under increasing pressure from their executives, customers, employees, investors and regulators to initiate or reinvigorate their IT for sustainability programmes.
“Almost two-thirds (64%) of CEOs surveyed said combining digitalisation, such as AI adoption, and environmental sustainability is a growth opportunity. CIOs should take that as a call to be more proactive in establishing their leadership through the execution of sustainability transformation strategies and use sustainability as a platform for growth,” added Tratz-Ryan.
For most CIOs, delivering on mandates and requirements means tracking and tracing on business KPIs, such as product carbon footprint or energy intensity. “It is a matter of how the CIO applies their digital foundation, or their digital dividend, to accommodate their organisation’s digitalization metrics, while delivering on the sustainability requirements – two for one,” said Tratz-Ryan. “Above all, even if the business is not prioritising sustainability yet, the CIO should make their digital foundation sustainability-ready.”
Being sustainability-ready applies to cloud and storage, infrastructure and operations, digital threads and the rapidly growing adoption of AI.
Weigh AI benefits against environmental risks and challenges
Although 78% of surveyed CEOs said the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, the increasing number of organisations using AI, including Generative AI (GenAI) is leading to a growing environmental footprint of AI.
Gartner predicts that by 2030, AI could consume up to 3.5% of the world’s electricity. “AI consumes a lot of electricity and water. This negative impact should be mitigated,” said Pieter den Hamer, VP Analyst at Gartner. “Executives should be cognizant of AI’s own growing environmental footprint and take active mitigation measures. For example, they could prioritise (cloud) data centres powered by renewable energy”.
Gartner said public cloud providers can produce 70% to 90% fewer GHG emissions than traditional server rooms, owned data centres and midsize data centre facilities.
However, AI is not only bad news for environmental sustainability. In fact, AI’s own footprint is more than eclipsed by the potential use of AI to boost many sustainability initiatives.
“This can only be achieved if business and IT leaders proactively initiate and foster a portfolio of AI initiatives that help achieve the sustainability and environment, social and governance (ESG) goals of their organisations,” said den Hamer. “For instance, AI can be used to predict demand more accurately and reduce the usage of raw materials and energy in manufacturing.
“Overall, ifused in the right way and focused on the right use cases, AI can help companies mitigate sustainability risk, optimise costs and drive growth,” added den Hamer.
Companies are increasingly being held more accountable for their ESG credentials which filters down into everything – even talent attraction involves being able to demonstrate the organisation’s ESG credentials. Beyond it being good business practice, it is vital that we consider how our business activities impact the world around us. 
CIOs often drive the transformation agenda, or at the very least, are the role holders in an organisation who are typically expected to drive the innovation and identify how new technologies can be applied for business value and advantage while improving overall sustainability. Thus, involving doing the obvious things like relying on renewable energy sources, choosing energy efficient options, through to practical steps such as repurposing tech equipment or effectively recycling it at the end of its useful ‘corporate life’. 
However, it goes beyond this, as it’s our responsibility to ensure sustainability is part of our architecture and is considered right throughout the supply chain. Technology and digital has already had a massive impact in helping organisations become more sustainable, but clearly there is more we need to do. One thing which we need to do more of is looking at the application of innovative technology and data solutions to ensure optimum route planning for field-based teams while minimising the emissions produced. Digital also provides the means for productivity and collaboration in a distributed workforce, reducing the need for the daily commute and opening flexible ways of working which in turn, reduces carbon emissions.
Finally, the CIO plays a key role in ensuring the organisation has the platforms and the data it needs to measure how sustainably it is operating while evidencing progress against the organisation’s sustainability plans. This is a significant undertaking and involves measuring and understanding a rich mixture of data sources, across business data, financial data and employee data which needs to be distilled down to something understandable to engage and inspire the organisation on its sustainability journey. It also potentially embraces new business functions such as carbon accounting, all of which needs to be supported by the right data and technology platforms and organisational capability.
Sustainability has become a key aspect of the CIO’s role due to the increasing volume and complexity of data related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. The CIO must serve as an interpreter between regulatory requirements, business logic and IT, especially with the rise of regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR).
With more and more data being generated, both in breadth and depth, the CIO must understand the intricacies of the real estate
business and the requirements of data collection, analysis and presentation of results. This expertise is essential in driving sustainability initiatives across various business functions while ensuring compliance with ESG regulations.
As sustainability data becomes a fundamental business asset, CIOs must work ESG data and tools into their technology roadmaps to achieve compliance, meet internal stakeholder demands and drive strategic planning. A robust ESG data strategy is essential for tracking progress towards sustainability goals, such as achieving net zero emissions.
One illustrative use case for this high-tech approach is tracking real estate energy data. Companies need to digitally capture vast amounts of energy consumption and CO2 emissions data to meet ESG regulatory compliance requirements and drive proactive decarbonisation strategies for large office buildings. With data being captured in intervals as short as 30 minutes to one hour from various sources like utility providers, smart meters and IoT sensors, CIOs must integrate this ESG data into their overall data strategies and ensure their IT infrastructure can accommodate it.
Furthermore, companies are employing real-time analysis of their real estate data using AI-driven decarbonisation models. These models provide accurate insights into resource management KPIs and operational carbon emissions, and integrating them into an existing IT estate falls under the CIO’s remit. Scaling AI to provide ongoing visibility into achieving net zero across a real estate portfolio is also a crucial responsibility for today’s CIOs.
In conclusion, the CIO’s role in sustainability has expanded significantly, as they must effectively navigate the complex landscape of data, technology and regulations to drive sustainability initiatives within organisations. By leveraging technology and data, CIOs can support environmental goals while delivering business value and ensuring compliance with emerging ESG regulations.
The directives from national and global authorities have been evolving from guidelines to mandatory requirements, and 2024 represents a giant step forward in terms of compliance, transparency and yet more commitment.
CIOs are increasingly challenged with what has become known as the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. They must weave their way through growing legislation to best position their businesses for:
Environmental sustainability for data centres translates into Scope 1 and 2 emissions with Scope 3 emission expected to become mandatory this year – this means laying the groundwork now, putting in place the necessary supplier processes and reporting procedures sooner than later. It’s a game changer. It’s no longer just about power and water usage efficiency and emissions, but right across the supply chain, including mitigating and offsetting the embodied carbon from data centre buildings construction and even IT equipment – purchasing, moving and disposing of IT all has an environmental cost and has a huge impact on an organisation’s carbon footprint.
Moving from on-premise to modern colocation data centres or putting more IT workloads into public or hybrid cloud set ups will reduce much of the CIO’s operational headaches in these respects. Many will have renewably sourced power in place, energy efficient cooling, diverse connectivity, sophisticated energy monitoring and reporting platforms.
There are further benefits of not remaining in house. More easily scaling up or down to keep pace with immediate and future IT capacity requirements, avoiding being constrained while also mitigating the cost of underutilised capacity. Such flexibility, along with the inherent security, resilience, environmental and energy efficient credentials of a Tier 3 colocation or cloud hosting provider, cannot be underestimated.
Even though CIOs will be responsible for auditing and reporting on the wider aspects of their IT’s environmental impact, reputable colocation data centre and cloud providers will help relieve them of the burden of Scope 1 and 2 as well as Scope 3 when it becomes mandatory.
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DePaul University Newsline > Sections > Campus and Community > New sustainability website connects the dots between DePaul’s broad efforts
By Division of Mission and Ministry / April 1, 2024 / Posted in: CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY / Twitter / Facebook
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