The government intends to involve French digital players as part of its energy sobriety plan. Several of them have made commitments, which are also kept according to the Ministry of Energy Transition.
But for the co-president of the National Digital Council, Gilles Babinet, technology is also a powerful lever for action in favor of the environment. The latter invited leaders to come and testify at DIMS – IT Paris 2023.
Purpose and positioning for Dassault Systèmes
At Dassault Systèmes, this approach is a lever for economic development, in addition to being one of the values attached to its raison d’être as a company with a mission.
“We have more than 400 solutions at the service of the environment, which help the different industries: automotive, aeronautics, telecoms, life sciences, cities… We help them to become more sustainable”, boasts Florence Verzelen, the DGA of the ‘editor.
The heavyweight of French software nevertheless strives to be itself more durable, for the sake of credibility. “There is a real question of setting an example”, underlines the leader, who thus describes a strategy built on 3 pillars
The company has defined an emissions reduction plan aligned with the Paris agreements. This objective must be achieved by 2027. Beyond 2027, it will partner with startups to capture residual C02.
Net zero objective for Free in 2050
But to have more impact (including on its turnover…), Florence Verzelen quotes the solutions developed, and which represent the 2nd pillar of the plan. The last is based on the development of a coalition of actors involved in reducing emissions.
In telecoms, Free also claims “a duty to set an example. I have the feeling that our sector is part of the solution”, declares Thomas Reynaud, its managing director.
“We have to be more exemplary than others in emphasizing that digital is a formidable lever for environmental transformation,” he continues, acknowledging that regulations are also a driving force for operators.
To underline his commitment, the boss notably cites Free’s opposition to the subsidization of smartphones, the modular design of his Internet boxes and the increased energy efficiency of equipment and networks.
Essential digital for ArcelorMittal
Free wants to be net zero in terms of emissions on scopes 1 and 2 by 2035 and in 2050 for scope 3. The operator has assessed the cost of this environmental transformation, amounting to one billion euros.
For an industrialist and metallurgist like ArcelorMittal, reducing energy consumption is both an economic and CSR challenge. To achieve its ambition to become a leader in decarbonization, the group has set itself a target in France of reducing emissions by 35% by 2030 – before aiming for carbon neutrality.
Three ways are being explored to achieve these ambitions: increased use of recycled steel, elimination of coal consumption (gradually replaced by gas and hydrogen) and capture of C02.
To stay on course, ArcelorMittal is intensifying the use of digital, underlines David Glijer, its director of digital transformation (CDO). “It’s essential”, he says, in particular to obtain recycled steel, deploy AI in order to lower C02 or to design more efficient connected factories.