Speaker: Shibao Pek, Sustainability Policy Manager, Amazon Web Services, Asia-Pacific & Japan.

This session explores how technological advancement and environmental sustainability can reinforce one another through cloud computing. Shibao Pek shares Amazon Web Services’ sustainability commitments, including renewable energy, energy-efficient data centers, water stewardship, and circular economy practices, while demonstrating how AWS technologies help governments, businesses, and non-profits reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and accelerate sustainability outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Cloud computing can support sustainability by reducing the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure through more energy-efficient data centers, optimized hardware, and innovative cooling technologies compared to traditional on-premise systems.
• AWS has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, matched 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable energy since 2023, and is expanding renewable energy investments in Indonesia through partnerships with PLN.
• AWS aims to become water positive by returning more water to communities than it consumes through efficient water use, recycled water, community water reuse, and investments in local water resilience projects.
• Sustainability initiatives extend beyond operations through community programs in Indonesia, including improving clean water access, restoring mangrove ecosystems, and building local capacity for environmental stewardship.
• Moving workloads to cloud infrastructure can significantly reduce customers’ carbon emissions while improving operational efficiency through optimized infrastructure and energy management.
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud analytics enable organizations to optimize energy systems, improve public transportation planning, support marine plastic cleanup, and enhance environmental decision-making.
• Cloud platforms can strengthen public services by improving scalability, operational resilience, and accessibility for government digital services while supporting broader sustainability objectives.
• Open access to environmental datasets—including satellite imagery, air quality, weather, and climate information—can help governments make more informed, data-driven sustainability decisions.
• Responsible technological innovation requires balancing digital transformation with investments in renewable energy, efficient infrastructure, circular resource management, and environmental partnerships to ensure technological progress contributes positively to sustainability.