by Jade French

In the not-for-profit space, a recent survey saw that ‘92% of digitally-focused charities say they expect to increase their measurable impact due to investment in technology’. Yet, The Future Charity report also found that adoption of new technologies is perceived to be slow moving in the sector overall.

Not-for-profit organisations need to scope out the best interventions for their work; be that blockchain technology for secure online donations or contactless points like TAP London that let folks donate to homeless charities on the go. Either way, the not-for-profit sector understands that technology is needed to combat rising socio-economic and environmental issues. 

No wonder, then, that Greenpeace is the latest leader in the sector to start the hunt for a Chief Technology Officer. Mixing the not-for-profit sector's technological ambitions with a passion for saving the environment, they are seeking someone who will focus on the twin crises of climate change and runaway biodiversity loss. 

It is worth asking what the impact of the technology revolution is on the environment. There are an estimated 7 billion people currently sharing the planet with the natural world. Every day, we impact on our natural environment and the biodiversity that keeps the world in balance through pollution, global warming and ocean acidification. Increasingly—and perhaps unsurprisingly considering the rapid uptick in Silicon Valley style solutions—we are looking to technology in order to solve global problems in our eco-systems; earthquake prediction, ocean clean-up, renewable energy and energy storage could all be enhanced and made more efficient through emerging technologies. 

The impact of Greenpeace’s new CTO could be huge as the charity currently works with a global network of 27 independent organisations and directly with communities on the environmental frontline in over 55 countries.

Systemic change is at the heart of Greenpeace’s mission, turning the now derided tech language of ‘disruption’ on its head to force ‘sustainable’ change, where the focus is on long-term goal setting and data-driven interventions.  At the very core of environmental technology should be sustainable development, which makes sure to avoid depleting natural resources or polluting in the name of advancing technology.

Greenpeace’s environmental activism could be at the forefront of new green, clean technology seeking to change our habits, raise awareness and clear up the mountains of waste we leave behind each year. 

greenpeace.org

@Greenpeace