Tech Sector's Growth Hinges on Nature: New Report Details Seven Priority Actions for Sustainability

As the tech sector grows, it is heavily reliant on natural resources, consuming vast amounts of water, energy, and minerals. Furthermore, the sector is facing rising risks from climate change and ecosystem degradation, threatening its social and regulatory license to operate. A new report from the World Economic Forum highlights the importance of a nature-positive approach, which can deliver up to $800 billion in cost savings and revenue upside across the tech sector value chain. Seven key actions are outlined to drive this transition, from improving water use and tackling pollution to powering operations sustainably.

Key Takeaways:

• 7 priority actions can drive the tech sector's nature-positive transition, including advancing resilient and restorative water use, mitigating pollution, and promoting land stewardship.
• The tech sector can capture around $800 billion in cost savings and revenue upside for businesses operating across its value chain.
• Companies including Salesforce, HP, and IBM are already taking steps towards a nature-positive approach, such as replenishing watersheds, combating e-waste, and redesigning products for sustainability.
• The World Economic Forum estimates that the tech sector's growth is heavily reliant on nature, consuming vast water, energy, and mineral resources, and facing rising risks from climate change and ecosystem degradation.
• The convergence of resource intensity, risk, and stakeholder and regulatory momentum makes the timing opportune for the tech sector to transition towards a nature-positive approach.
• The Nature Positive: Role of the Tech Sector report will be available in late 2025, detailing opportunities for the tech sector to lead on nature action.

Statistics:

• The tech sector can capture around $800 billion in cost savings and revenue upside for businesses operating across its value chain.
• 85% of wastewater is recycled by Taiwanese semiconductor fabricators.
• By 2030, half of the global population will be at risk of water strain.
• HP has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, and Conservation International on biodiversity offsets and ecosystem restoration.
• Delta Electronics' supplier code of conduct includes metrics on energy conservation, carbon and waste reduction, and sustainable material procurement.
• The European Green Digital Coalition is developing methods to estimate tech-enabled emissions reductions.

Sources:

• World Economic Forum: "The tech sector's growth is highly dependent on nature and is facing rising risks from climate change and ecosystem degradation."
• World Economic Forum: "A nature-positive approach presents has the potential to deliver up to $800 billion in cost savings and revenue upside across the tech sector value chain."
• World Economic Forum: "Seven priority actions can drive the nature-positive transition, including advancing resilient and restorative water use, mitigating pollution, and promoting land stewardship."
• Salesforce: "In a sector that is growing fast, it is important that we address the ways in which the technology industry depends on and impacts nature."
• World Economic Forum: "The Nature Positive: Role of the Tech Sector report will be available in late 2025, with more work in progress on opportunities for the tech sector to lead on nature action."