Saad Toma

General Manager, IBM Middle East and Africa

HOW ARE YOU CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE REGION?

IBM is a leader in sustainability efforts, working with business and society to make a lasting positive impact on the environment. As a trusted brand, IBM has a track record of setting precedents with environmental and social commitments for over 50 years. For example, we are committed to achieving Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2030 and we promote environmental justice programs like the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, enabling organisations and communities to tackle environmental issues. We also recently partnered SDAIA and Ministry of Energy in Saudi Arabia, leveraging AI technology to detect, map and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, we have a range of solutions and technology innovations. IBM has the most comprehensive technology portfolio and consulting expertise to design, deploy and manage sustainability solutions across ecosystems that align to overall sustainability goals with greater value. We launched IBM LinuxONE – a server that can reduce energy consumption by 75%, space by 50%, and the CO2e footprint by over 850 metric tons annually.

With regard to advocacy and partnerships, IBM is committed to partnerships that help drive lasting and impactful results. For example, IBM is a founding member of advocacy organisations such as the Climate Leadership Council (supporting its bipartisan plan for a carbon tax with carbon dividends) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. We were named technology partner for COP27, the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference which was held in Egypt.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE?

As per the recent IBM Institute for Business Value expertise or not knowing where to start. Their challenge is to make sustainability a true business driver while delivering ROI.

HOW ARE YOU OVERCOMING THESE CHALLENGES?

IBM helps customers align sustainability goals to business objectives while complying with increasing regulatory demands. We operationalize sustainability end-to-end with data-driven innovation through a comprehensive and growing portfolio of industry leading consulting and technology capabilities. With an ecosystem of partners, we co-create solutions to uncover new opportunities while finding cost efficiencies, without trade-offs or compromising profitability. Our practical approach integrates and automates quality ESG data into daily workflows with speed and scale –across physical, digital, and supply chain domains – delivering true insights in a verifiable and auditable way.

Few companies have the breadth and depth of capabilities plus industry-leading research to help customers set, operationalize, and achieve their ESG targets. At IBM, we believe that technology is a critical enabler to meet ESG targets both internally and externally. We put our belief into action through goals and commitments, client solutions and research, and advocacy and coalitions. We have consistently set precedents with environmental commitments for more than 50 years and continue to lead the charge.

your Impact CEO Study’: Four out of five CEOs expect sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investments to improve business results in the next five years, yet only 23% of CEOs say they are fully implementing sustainability strategies across their organisations today. Regulatory, consumer and boardroom pressures are only increasing, and companies must demonstrate meaningful and timely progress against their public commitments. Many companies know the time to act is now, but progress is hindered by a lack of

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