TECH/talks: DevSusOps

DevSusOps: Embedding Sustainability into DevOps

The IT industry emits an estimated 1.4 billion tonnes of CO₂e per year and consumes around 4% of the world’s energy—with data centers alone responsible for 2–3% of global electricity use. As the climate crisis intensifies, IT can no longer ignore its environmental footprint. DevSusOps emerges as a practical and direct solution: it embeds sustainability into existing DevOps and FinOps practices, rather than adding another layer. It focuses on simplicity, measurable action, and real impact from day one. This shift aligns naturally because many organizations are already embracing DevOps and FinOps, making it easier to adopt sustainable practices.

The Starter Goals mark the beginning of this journey. At this stage, organizations are just becoming aware of the benefits of incorporating sustainability within DevOps and FinOps. Cross-functional teams are responsible for setting low-carbon goals and developing action plans that cover software, hardware, and infrastructure. Early KPIs are defined, though measurement accuracy and product coverage are still immature. Reporting is limited, and initiatives tend to focus on low-effort, high-impact opportunities—”low-hanging fruit.” However, as organizations mature, the level of refinement and ambition increases. The Intermediate Goals bring in broader planning, stronger integration with business strategy through OKRs and KPIs, and a culture of decarbonization supported by learning and development. Eventually, the Advanced Goals are characterized by automation, real-time monitoring, and a fully embedded DevSusOps framework. At this point, sustainability enhances—not hinders—agility, engineering quality, and cloud efficiency. All teams are aligned, difficult edge cases are actively resolved, and performance is continuously evaluated and improved.

👉So don’t wait. Start today. For cross-functional teams, set your early targets, and make sustainability a core part of your DevOps culture—so that the software you build is not only powerful and efficient, but truly built for the future.