CB BureauThe prediction is founded on two factors: one, green IT and sustainability emerging as key concerns for businesses across industries and policymakers, and two, future policy initiatives and regulatory measures from the Indian government that will drive these initiatives.
In its report titled ‘Hype Cycle for Green IT and Sustainability in India, 2012’ by IT consultant Gartner, spending on green IT and sustainability initiatives will double from USD 35 billion in 2010 to USD 70 billion in 2015. In 2012, spending in this area in India will add up to USD 45 billion.
As enterprises embrace IT to improve productivity and drive growth, penetration of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure has been growing rapidly during the past decade, as has the energy consumption and resulting carbon emissions. Apart from the ICT industry, banking and financial services, hospitality, manufacturing (such as automobiles), pharmaceuticals and other industries that have significant exposure to the export markets, are likely to partake in the green IT and sustainability trend early in India.
In other industries, addressing energy, carbon, resource efficiency and sustainable economic development is currently still in the early stages, the report said. The report also makes the point that ‘though many technologies are available, government policies will eventually drive green IT and sustainability solutions adoption by Indian enterprises.’
‘For the first time, a chapter on sustainable development and climate change was introduced in the government’s annual Indian Economic Survey, 2011-2012. The survey has suggested making lower-carbon sustainable growth a central element of India’s 12th Five-Year Plan, which commenced in April 2012,’ said Ganesh Ramamoorthy, Research Director at Gartner.
‘This will set the tone for future policy initiatives and regulatory measures from the Indian government that will drive the implementation of some technologies – such as advanced metering infrastructure, carbon capture and sequestration, intelligent transportation system, solar energy technology, building integrated PV systems, eco-labels and footprints, combined heat and power technology, e-waste, distributed power generation, and water management – necessary to usher in low-carbon sustainable growth,’ he added.