New GDSA Digital Scope 3 Insights Report

We’re delighted to announce the publication of the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA) Digital Scope 3 Insights Report, a major step forward in practical support for digital sustainability across public sector organisations.

As organisations continue to expand their use of digital services, cloud platforms and connected technologies, understanding and managing digital Scope 3 emissions has become increasingly important. These indirect emissions, generated across the full digital value chain from hardware manufacturing to data processing and software use, often represent the largest proportion of an organisation’s digital carbon footprint. However, they can also be some of the most complex to measure and manage.

The GDSA Digital Scope 3 Insights Report has been developed to address this challenge. It provides clear, practical guidance to help organisations better understand their digital emissions, establish credible baselines, set meaningful targets and embed sustainable practices into procurement and operational decision-making. The report also explores how improved data, supplier engagement and digital service design can support long-term emissions reduction.

We are proud to have contributed to this important piece of work. The report is the result of extensive collaboration across government, industry and academia, bringing together a wide range of expertise, perspectives and experience. It reflects many hours of shared learning, discussion and collective problem-solving, and demonstrates the power of partnership in driving progress towards more sustainable digital services.

The full Digital Scope 3 Insights Report is now available to view here.