IDC predicts that AI-powered sustainable businesses in the Asia/Pacific region will become more prevalent and efficient.
Key findings:
Decarbonizing AI infrastructure: By 2027, 50% of APEJ enterprises aim to adopt sustainable AI frameworks, utilizing data-driven decisions to scale AI operations across datacenter locations and achieve decarbonization goals.
By 2027, 50% of APAC organizations plan to exclusively work with IT vendors that meet ESG-related AI criteria.
Energy-efficient AI infrastructure: By 2028, 75% of APEJ customers will require CO2 emissions data on IT asset build, operation, and disposition to achieve corporate sustainable goals.
50% of Asia/Pacific organizations will partner with robust IT vendors for carbon accounting and supply chain decarbonization, emphasizing the importance of technology and AI in ESG agendas.
Decision makers and budget holders: By 2029, 50% of APEJ organizations plan to have their chief ethics/sustainability officer join the central AI data governance group or the AI center of excellence.
Sustainable IT:
IDC predicts AI adoption in the APAC is accelerating due to IT buyers’ focus on ESG and responsible AI standards, promoting sustainable strategies and green AI adoption.
In its report, IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Sustainability/ESG 2025 Predictions—Asia/Pacific (Excluding Japan) (APEJ) Implications, IDC notes that organizations are transitioning from a 62% success rate in GenAI experimentation to a full-scale integration of AI across enterprises, causing a shift in tech-buyer mindset.
The AI pivot aims to integrate AI across all business operations, recognizing it as a core component, establishing robust governance frameworks, and fostering collaboration for sustainable growth.
The transition to AI in the enterprise necessitates the establishment of robust governance frameworks and increased collaboration between business and IT teams for sustainable growth.
As AI adoption matures, enterprises will strategically integrate AI into their core operations, ensuring measurable impact and compliance with ESG-driven governance.
Green AI, when incorporated with responsible AI criteria, will effectively balance sustainability with its functionality, thereby enhancing corporate ESG programs and long-term business value creation.
Thought leadership:
“The AI pivot will see the rise of green AI use cases. Organizations will move beyond leveraging GenAI to generate emissions reports for compliance to more operationally focused sustainable transformation strategies such as the transition to low carbon footprint IT, more advanced climate risk analytics that will climate-proof supply chains, and enhanced capability to design and produce sustainable products and services at a faster rate,” said Melvie Espejo, Research Director, Sustainable Strategies and Technologies, IDC Asia/Pacific.
“Organizations have expanded the criteria for selection in sustainability technology and services. The challenges in ESG data and analytics will define customer requirements from now through 2029,” he said.
