Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore and Microsoft will collaborate to address climate-related issues and improve sustainability outcomes for digital technologies.
This partnership will look to accelerate the global and local development of software applications and solutions to help industries do more with less, a joint statement by the two entities said.
Apart from sharing learnings, certification pathways, best practices, and standards for effective measurement of and reporting of carbon emissions from software applications, the two will also develop a joint framework that will outline the guidance for the development of sustainable software.
The framework will be applied through the Singapore GreenTech Challenge, where local developers will be invited to build sustainable and carbon-aware applications that will contribute to the energy reset pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
The framework will also be shared globally when ready.
The partnership will also curate and encourage the adoption of sustainable technology solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
These solutions will help SMEs to measure, track and report their carbon emissions as they manage and optimise their resources more easily.
This will include the curation of sustainable solutions such as the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, together with advice on governance frameworks such as sustainable operating models or compliance structures that can help SMEs kickstart their sustainability journey by measuring, tracking and reporting their carbon emissions.
IMDA’s Deputy Chief Executive, Kiren Kumar said the partnership with Microsoft will result in innovative digital sustainability solutions that “can be applied to global businesses which will provide positive change to our global environment and create a sustainable future for all”.
Microsoft’s Singapore Managing Director, Lee Hui Li said: “I’m confident that our focus on sustainability will contribute to widespread human progress and improve the lives of all those around us, as we build a resilient, digitally inclusive Singapore.”
