A commitment to the future
“Using ICT intelligently, promoting sustainability, is strategic to the mission of FCCN and its employees,” says João Nuno Ferreira, General Coordinator of FCCN.
This motto is at the genesis of FCCN +Sustainable project, created by the FCCN Unit of the FCT, which aims to reinforce the alignment of the FCCN's activity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 17 SDGs define the global priorities and aspirations for 2030, adopted by the 193 countries of the United Nations in areas that affect the quality of life of all citizens worldwide. For the FCCN +Sustentável project, five of these SDGs were selected as pillars for its implementation, namely:
The FCCN +Sustentável project aims to adopt good environmental practices and innovative network technology as viable alternatives to sources of pollution and harmful emissions. The initiative also seeks to balance efficiency, environmental responsibility, and environmental and well-being practices in a constantly evolving technological landscape.
Recognizing its social and economic responsibility as a technological partner of the scientific and research communities, within the scope of FCCN +Sustentável, FCCN is committed to minimizing waste and its carbon footprint, among other measures. Optimizing energy and material efficiency in technological services is another distinctive feature of this project, demonstrating its ambition for greater economic and ecological sustainability.
A preliminary internal and external analysis demonstrated that the FCCN has already adopted positive practices, indicating an upward trajectory toward a more sustainable future. Specifically, regarding the ECO.AP 2030 program – Public Administration Resource Efficiency Program, the FCCN has shown good results, fulfilling approximately 56% of the proposed actions. The commitment extends into the future, with an estimated fulfillment of another 33% of these actions.
To further deepen the pursuit of sustainable practices, under the FCCN +Sustentável project, FCCN conducted an internal pre-assessment survey. The responses revealed measures already adopted in the workplace and in employees' personal lives, in addition to notable suggestions for new practices to be implemented. Overall, this survey confirmed that a significant portion of employees are aware of the importance of sustainability and are already involved in initiatives in this area.
The Project FCCN +Sustainable demonstrates that ICT can be a driving force for a better and more sustainable future, despite being one of the sectors with the highest energy consumption and consequent impact on the environment.
