As digital infrastructure continues to expand globally—particularly in developing and emerging economies—the environmental footprint of data centres is becoming a growing concern. To support governments and institutions in adopting more sustainable digital solutions, UNEP’s United for Efficiency (U4E) has developed new Sustainable Procurement Guidelines for Data Centres and Servers.
On 8 July 2025, U4E hosted a public webinar to launch the Guidelines, providing insights into their structure, content, and practical applications. The session highlighted the role of procurement in driving sustainable development and presented technical guidance to help countries select energy- and resource-efficient IT equipment.
Topics covered:
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Overview of the U4E Guidelines and their key recommendations
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Energy and environmental challenges in the data centre sector
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The role of sustainable procurement in promoting energy efficiency
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Country example from Brazil
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Experiences from the Uptime Institute and Alibaba Group
Speakers:
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- Patrick Blake, Programme Manager, UNEP U4E
- Rocio Soledad Garcia, Energy Efficiency Specialist, UNEP U4E
- Jay Dietrich, Research Director, Sustainability and Energy, Uptime Institute
- Dr. Wei Liu, Head of ESG Strategy, Alibaba Group
- Alexandra Albuquerque Maciel, Energy Efficiency Project Coordinator, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil
- Camila Luz, Moderator, Communications Specialist, UNEP U4E
Presentations:
Webinar Recording:
