The team has worked closely with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Economic Forum (WEF), and UK government to raise awareness about the environmental impact of digital practices, guiding stakeholders to adopt more sustainable approaches.
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol has recently announced that Professor Jackson has joined the ‘Scope 3 Technical Working Group for Corporate Standards’ update process to provide his specialist expertise. This appointment follows a highly competitive open call, which received over 1,300 applications, and reflects the growing recognition of the impact of data on carbon emissions.
Dean of Loughborough Business School, Professor Jan Godsell said: "It's fantastic to see initiatives like digital decarbonisation being proactively championed by our Loughborough Business School academics. I'm tremendously proud of the efforts researchers like Professor Jackson put into developing new and improved ways of doing business, delivering our Progress with Purpose ethos to organisations who share our values and vision of a sustainable future."
The GHG Protocol, developed by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), sets the global standard for how to measure, manage, and report greenhouse gas emissions. The digital decarbonisation team’s research will help to inform the new Scope 3 standard, offering insight on the measurement of emissions from digital practices and environmental impact forecasting.
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Dan Parsons said: “I am delighted that Professor Tom Jackson has been extended an invitation to join the prestigious Scope 3 Technical Working Group of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. It’s fantastic to see this kind of recognition for the hard work and leadership of our Loughborough Business School colleagues on the issues of digital decarbonisation and climate change.
“As Tom and his colleague Professor Ian Hodgkinson have recently highlighted, our increasing reliance on data and digital content is not without an environmental cost. They have been instrumental in pushing forward new understanding of the relevant issues around 'dark data' and how the implications for climate change are significant. This important milestone appointment demonstrates the broader and global recognition of the value of that work.
Through his ongoing efforts, Professor Jackson has embodied the ethos of promoting positive change for both people and planet that guides our own research and innovation strategy at Loughborough. I want to congratulate Tom on this achievement as he continues to drive forward the principles and delivery of digital decarbonisation.”