How can you ensure your cloud system is sustainable?

Choosing the right cloud, estimating the requirements, benchmarking performance and assessing the infrastructure and service provider in terms of sustainable options is always a good step towards achieving Net Zero for Cloud Practices with the organisation. Choosing a hybrid cloud environment is always a good practice as it directly impacts the Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission. The organisations should also ensure that over-provisioning not only increases waste but all increases the carbon emission of the organisation. Assessing Public Cloud based on their services gives organisations an opportunity to choose the right environment and utilize microservices thus decreasing the IaaS footprints.

Beware the sustainability claims of major public cloud providers. None of the 'Big 3' cloud emission tools include Scope 3 emissions, which can be 80-99% of emissions. This is makes their methodologies quite misleading. Of the Scopes they do measure, some will make renewable claims which are also misleading and reduce Scope 2 emissions to zero, when the reality is quite different. In order to monitor your cloud emissions, choose an independent, usage-based methodology.

A service/cloud provider that has well documented use cases and certifications is just the first step. Ensure you are leveraging expertise in climate science and carbon accounting SMEs as well. It’s best to have a holistic view point in emissions data to pull actionable insights from.

After the Paris Aggreement in 2015, all major public cloud providers are working towards their Go Green goals and reducing GHG emissions. AWS aims to use 100% renewable energy by 2025 with a commitment to reach Net Zero carbon across its operations by 2040. GCP 8s carbon neutral for its operations today and aims to run on carbon free energy 24x7 at all GCP data centers by 2030. Microsoft has set high goals for itself and is committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2025, targeting net zero deforestation from new construction, getting water positive, and achieving zero waste certification by 2030. Thus choose your cloud provider wisely and the choice should match your near and long term net zero targets.

The cloud native services are now microservices and consume lesser resources while running applications. These cloud providers also have services such as GCP Carbon Footprint, Azure Sustainability Calculator and AWS Customer Carbon Footprint tool that helps to keep an eye on the carbon footprint of the cloud services. While cloud native services increase agility and efficiency in the environment, at the same time it also helps to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. For reducing Scope 3 emission FinOps and GreenOps can be substantial frameworks. Modernisation and using serverless consumes resources only when an application is active. Also choosing cleaner and green cloud regions is another method to reduce carbon footprints.

Start by choosing a green cloud provider that uses renewable energy sources. Optimize resource allocation, use virtualization and containerization, and consider the location of data centers. Prioritize energy-efficient hardware and software development practices, while monitoring and optimizing resource usage. Implement efficient data storage solutions and regularly optimize your cloud billing. Explore renewable energy credits and encourage sustainability reporting from your provider. Regular sustainability assessments and collaboration with your provider are vital, as is engagement with industry and government initiatives to promote sustainable cloud practices.