Global Sustainability Awards 2026: Tech, AI & Transformation
The Global Sustainability Awards are set to take place on 8 September 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London.
The awards feature a black-tie gala dinner, bringing together and celebrating companies, organisations and executives leading the race in sustainable business practices.
The awards feature eight categories, recognising that sustainability comes in many different shapes and sizes.
Why get involved?
Participating in these awards provides organisations with a valuable opportunity to showcase their leadership in sustainable innovation across the data centre and technology sectors.
Through extensive industry marketing, media coverage and recognition at the awards ceremony, participants can enhance brand visibility among key stakeholders driving the future of digital infrastructure.
The programme brings together senior executives, sustainability specialists and technology leaders, creating a unique platform for high-level networking and collaboration.
In addition, involvement demonstrates a commitment to advancing environmental performance, operational efficiency and responsible growth, positioning organisations at the forefront of industry transformation.
By aligning with a respected awards programme, companies can strengthen their credibility, access new business opportunities and gain recognition for the technologies and strategies helping to build a more sustainable digital economy.
Entries for the Global Awards 2026 close 29 June 2026 with final judging and shortlisting announced in July.
Tech and data centre’s role in sustainability
AI, cybersecurity, digital technologies and sustainable data centres are increasingly important enablers of global sustainability.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, AI can help monitor climate change, predict environmental risks, improve resource efficiency, support circular economy initiatives, encourage sustainable consumer behaviour and strengthen evidence-based policymaking.
AI-powered systems are already being used to detect methane emissions, provide flood and drought early warnings, optimise agricultural resource use and analyse progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Research highlighted by the World Economic Forum demonstrates how AI supports climate monitoring, smart energy grids, sustainable urban planning, environmental protection, recycling and precision agriculture, helping organisations reduce emissions, waste and resource consumption.
These advances depend on secure digital infrastructure and robust cybersecurity frameworks that protect critical environmental data, operational systems and essential services from disruption.
Google reports that its data centres deliver more than six times the computing power per unit of electricity compared with five years ago, while maintaining a 100% renewable energy match globally since 2017 and investing billions in clean energy projects.
Google also highlights the importance of water stewardship, responsible cooling technologies and carbon-free energy in reducing the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure.
Similarly, IBM notes that green data centres use energy-efficient technologies, advanced cooling systems, virtualization, renewable energy sources, waste-heat recovery and responsible equipment recycling to minimise environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.
Together, AI, cybersecurity, advanced technologies and sustainable data centres are creating the resilient digital foundations needed to accelerate decarbonisation, optimise resource use, support climate resilience and enable a more sustainable future.
At The Global Awards, The Tech & AI Award is being marked on:
- How has technology or AI been applied to solve a sustainability challenge?
- What measurable impact or improvement has been achieved?
- How has the initiative improved data-driven decision-making or efficiency?
- What innovation or scalability potential does the solution offer?
The Transformation Project of the Year is being ranked on:
- What were the key objectives and outcomes of this project?
- What actions or innovations were implemented to achieve transformation?
- What measurable results or benefits were achieved post-completion?
- How does this project contribute to the wider data centre ecosystem or industry progress?
Last year's winners
Last year’s winners showcased how innovation, technology and sustainable business practices can drive meaningful environmental and social impact.
The AI in Sustainability Award was won by IFS, with GIST Impact receiving Highly Commended recognition.
IFS, a global enterprise software company, was recognised for its AI-powered Planning and Scheduling Optimisation solution, which helps industrial organisations reduce carbon emissions by cutting travel, fuel consumption and waste while supporting broader decarbonisation goals.
“We've won the AI in Sustainability Award for our solution PSO,” said Michael Backstone, Global Climate Strategy Manager at IFS, at the awards.
“PSO is a scheduling optimisation engine that delivers a combination of operational, commercial and sustainability benefits.
“So it really is a win-win-win for customers.
“It's AI-driven using agentic flows and it gives our customers the ability to optimise all of their resources and drive sustainability benefits at the same time.”
Terraformation secured both the SME Company of the Year Award and the Sustainable Technology Award, while Jet Plant Hire was highly commended in the SME category and ECL & Croda Beauty received highly commended recognition in the Sustainable Technology Award.
Founded in 2020 by Yishan Wong, former CEO of Reddit, Terraformation was recognised for combining measurable ESG impact with innovative technology to accelerate biodiverse reforestation worldwide.
Through seed banks, nursery kits, solar-powered desalination systems and its open-source Terraware platform, the company supports local and Indigenous communities, creates jobs and helps scale restoration projects globally.
The Sustainable Finance Award was awarded to Scala Data Centers, with Cisco & Terraformation highly commended.
Upon receiving the award, Ana Luiza Rodrigues, Sustainability Manager at Scala Data Centers, said: “It's a great honour to be here and to represent Scala Data Centers at this important award.
"This recognition means a lot to us.
"I want to thank our scholars, my leaders and all of you.
"Thank you so much.”
Founded in 2020, Scala Data Centers was recognised for pioneering sustainable digital infrastructure through innovative green debenture issuances, operating hyperscale facilities powered by 100% renewable energy and delivering carbon-neutral, highly efficient data centre services across Latin America, supported by innovations such as HVO-powered backup systems and renewable self-generation projects.
