NetApp: The Role of AI and Dark Data on Sustainability Goals
Who or what is “Sustainability’s Missing Stakeholder?”
This intriguing question is the focus of NetApp Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Nicola Acutt’s anticipated keynote at Sustainability LIVE during Climate Week NYC – and on a deeper level, does AI play a part?
Taking place on 22 September at Convene, 360 Madison Avenue, NYC, the Sustainability Magazine event gathers a large number of C-suite sustainability executives from international businesses.
Other notable speakers include PepsiCo CSO Jim Andrew, Mastercard CSO Ellen Jackowski, Nokia Global Head of Sustainability Subhagata Mukherjee and Sol Salinas, Global Executive VP, Sustainable Lead, Capgemini.
Nicola’s presentation is set to precede the Route to Net Zero Panel.
AI in sustainable business leadership at NetApp
In June 2024, Nicola Acutt joined NetApp as its inaugural CSO.
Previously, she dedicated 14 years to VMware, honing her expertise in sustainability leadership.
Speaking to Sustainability Magazine this year, Nicola said: “I like to say I was doing this before there was a thing called a chief sustainability officer job in companies.”
Nicola’s role includes setting strategy and operationalising sustainability across the business.
She says: “That includes the operational footprint as well as setting strategy around where we go from a product innovation perspective.”
She also oversees and drives NetApp’s commitment to decarbonising its value chain.
Nicola, who was at number 99th in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Women in Sustainability, adds: “The third piece is working in partnership with the engineering organisation to build the most sustainable approach to intelligent data infrastructure.”
NetApp’s role in fueling digital transformation
NetApp stands as a pivotal player in data infrastructure, offering unified data storage, integrated data services and cloud operation solutions.
Nicola says: “The way I describe that to my family is to think about NetApp as providing the digital infrastructure, the roads and bridges and reservoirs for the modern digital world.”
Tackling the complexities of data management, NetApp enables businesses to maintain an efficient, scalable, sustainable and secure data landscape, reinforcing its commitment to digital transformation through sustainable practices.
Tackling dark data with AI
AI is driving a surge in global energy consumption, but Nicola is most alarmed by the data waste, saying: “More than two thirds of data that is created is never used again.”
This “dark data” consumes substantial resources, driving a sustainability challenge that NetApp is poised to confront through its expert services.
Nicola looks ahead with optimism: “The solutions that we have today, if deployed at scale now, while we are building towards this AI future, are critical to bringing down that energy demand curve.”
Intersecting innovations for climate leadership
The event, themed around climate leadership, innovation and measurable impact, will delve into crucial topics such as:
- Net zero strategies and Scope 3 reduction
- Decarbonisation of supply chains
- Climate finance and green investment
- Circular economy models and material innovation
- Climate-tech and AI for sustainability
Sustainability LIVE aims to promote collaboration and insight-sharing, providing attendees with practical strategies for climate action and access to some of the most influential voices in the global sustainability landscape.
