The term Green IT refers to information and communication technologies (ICT) that have been designed with environmental sustainability in mind--that is, to contain the minimum amount of disposed or recycled with the minimum effect on the environment and human health. Green IT also refers to the manner in which ICT are deployed to help reduce GCG emissions, to introduce energy efficiencies, or to reduce energy consumption. On the other hand, Green IS (Information Systems) include, for examples, IT-based software applications that (a) monitor and report emissions; (b) manage waste, toxic and hazardous materials; (c) manage high energy-consuming facilities (e.g. transport/logistics and buildings management); (d) design greener products; and (e) redesign business processes across the enterprise to be environmentally sustainable. Green IT have direct effects in introducing energy efficiencies and reducing CO2 emissions, while Green IS have enabling effects that do likewise.

The overall goal of my Research Fellowship is to examine how organisations are leveraging the direct effects of Green IT and enabling effects of Green IS to make their business processes more energy efficient, thus lowering Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and waste, while producing Green products and services.

The high-level or strategic questions that drive my research include:

1. The role and influence of national and international (e.g. EU) regulators in shaping Green business strategies.
2. The role and influence of related organisations in the supply chain, professional bodies, industry associations, education, and academic research in influencing Green initiatives.
3. The role and influence of society at large, e.g. social movements such as Greenpeace, WWF, institutional investors and NGOs such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, on corporate environmental responsibility.

The remaining substantive body of research questions concern the translation of strategy into practical IT-related measures to help reduce GHG emissions. These come under the general headings of Energy efficiency, Dematerialisation, Recycling, and Operations, including supply chain and logistics: however, it is clear that changing human behaviours is key, thus issues related to Human Resources and Corporate Identity (i.e. how the organisation is perceived in terms of Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility) also need to be investigated.

Keywords:

Green IT; Green IS; Business Processes; GHG; Regulation; Green Business; Initiatives