Leanne Kemp, Founder & CEO, Everledger
State of Open: The UK in 2023
Phase One: “A Year in Review”
As Chief Sustainability Officer of OpenUK, Leanne aims to propel their sustainability initiatives by addressing challenges identified in the ABC of Open Source. Recognising concerns highlighted by the World Economic Forum and OpenUK’s 2022 report, their focus is on aligning with the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). They prioritise transparency, acknowledging potential downsides like the environmental impact and job market concerns. Open Source’s potential for sustainable technology is highlighted, particularly in optimising energy use. However, they must navigate the Jevon’s Paradox and deepen conversations on technology’s societal impacts. While promoting transparency and inclusivity, they also extend evaluation and support to initiatives like OpenAI, emphasising alignment with sustainability goals. The OpenUK Open Technology for Sustainability Day in September will further champion these endeavors.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: SUSTAINABILITY
Leanne Kemp, Founder and CEO, Everledger
As the recently appointed Chief Sustainability Officer of OpenUK, I am excited to take on the challenge of leading the company’s sustainability efforts and building upon the foundations established. 2023 presents the perfect opportunity to capitalise on the progress made and to set the stage for even greater successes leading into 2030.
One of the key areas OpenUK staunchly focuses on is Open Source Software and its impact on sustainability. While Open Source initiatives have the potential to promote sustainability, it’s important to consider with a balanced view, if not sometimes play a contrarian role to truly explore, discover and resolve the potential downsides.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Davos 2023 risk report, the cost of maintenance and security of coding technical systems is a top concern. Additionally, the OpenUK State of Open 2022 report notes that the top 3 challenges for Open Source initiatives are ABC. All of which: require positioning and alignment under Mother Earth spectacles of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
OpenUK collective goal is to work closely with the community and to continuously evaluate, improve, and ensure that our initiatives align with our sustainability goals. This includes being transparent and considerate of the deficiencies that exist, aligning with the ESG, SDGs, and addressing the potential downsides of Open Source initiatives such as the environmental impact of Open Source software and the lack of alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
We are all believers, contributors and disciples of Open Source movement and Open Technology as it’s long been recognised for its ability to promote collaboration and inclusivity, but it also has the potential to lead the way in sustainable technology. The Open Source community’s values of transparency and community-driven development align closely with what is needed to address the complex and interconnected issues of sustainability.
As a driving force for good: one of the key areas where Open Source can make a difference is in the optimisation of digital technology to use electricity more efficiently. Sixty percent of the world’s electricity is still generated by burning fossil fuels, despite the increasing capacity for renewable energy generation. By developing and implementing Open Source solutions that use less electricity, the carbon emissions generated by the tech sector can be reduced.
However, it’s important to note that simply making technology more efficient may not be enough to address the root causes of climate change and sustainability issues. The Jevon’s paradox states that making something more efficient often leads to using more of it, not less. Therefore, it’s crucial to have deeper conversations about the relationship between society and technology, and to consider the impact of technology on marginalised communities and ecosystems.
Open Source can also play a role in addressing these issues by promoting transparency and accountability in the supply chain of digital technology. By using Open Source solutions, companies and organisations can better understand the environmental and social impact of the materials and resources used in the production of their technology.
Additionally, the Open Source community leads by example in terms of equity and inclusivity. By sharing the wealth generated by digital technology equitably and ensuring that the benefits are enjoyed by all members of society, not just those who are most privileged, we can promote sustainable development and create a more just and equitable world.
However, the elephant in the room today is OpenAI. OpenAI is facing criticism for its lack of transparency and its potential negative impact on the job market as it is a for-profit company and not in fact Open Source as it does not allow access to its source code nor license it under an OSI approved licence. This raises concerns about accountability and transparency.
In conclusion, Open Source initiatives have the potential to promote sustainability, but it is important for OpenUK to look beyond itself and ensure other worldly initiatives like OpenAI are continuously evaluated and supported to improve their strategies to ensure alignment with environmental, social, and governance goals and sustainable development goals. Transparency and accountability must also be prioritised to address potential downsides such as the environmental impact of Open Source Software and concerns about the job market. It is crucial to have deeper conversations about the relationship between society and technology, and to consider the impact of technology on marginalised communities and ecosystems. Open Source can play a key role in driving sustainable technology and promoting equity and inclusivity.
We will again be leading on agenda setting with our OpenUK Open Technology for Sustainability Day in Edinburgh on 14 September.