A new whitepaper from Alibaba Cloud, “Driving Sustainability with AI: A Guide to Partnering with Technology Service Providers,” lays out how organizations can leverage AI and cloud computing to accelerate their sustainability journeys.
Drawing from the “Tech-Driven Sustainability Trends and Index 2024,” which surveyed 1,300 business leaders across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the report combines data, recommendations, and case studies to show how technology can bridge the gap between sustainability goals and their implementation.
The whitepaper highlights that while 80% of surveyed organizations have green targets, only a third have committed to science-based net-zero goals. Many struggle with technical understanding and measurement. However, 76% see AI and cloud as key to achieving sustainability, with 82% emphasizing the need for these technologies to be sustainable themselves.
Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert platform, using AI to measure emissions in real time, has already assisted over 3,000 organizations. A collaboration with Covestro helped Nongfu Spring track the lifecycle emissions of recycled materials. The paper also points to Alibaba Cloud’s efficient open-source Qwen AI models, used by companies like Lightblue for lower-cost, lower-energy AI development.
The whitepaper recommends five strategies: linking AI/cloud to sustainability KPIs, partnering with green tech providers, embedding security in sustainability, embracing open AI, and fostering public-private collaboration.
Ultimately, the report argues that sustainability is now a competitive advantage, and with the right partners and tools, AI and cloud can drive a greener, smarter future.
