IMDA introduces new resources to simplify digital sustainability adoption for businesses

26 February 2026

On 22 January 2026, the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (“IMDA”) announced the launch of new resources to enable Singapore businesses to adopt digital sustainability solutions in a practical and measurable way. These resources comprise the Digital Technologies for Sustainability Playbook, Practical Green Software Guide for Enterprises, and Carbon Calculator for Cloud Services. 

Digital Technologies for Sustainability Playbook 

The Digital Technologies for Sustainability Playbook, developed by IMDA in consultation with industry, guides companies in integrating digital technologies, such as automation, the Internet of Things, data analytics, and AI, into operations, enabling them to implement sustainable processes, practices, and policies that lead to enhanced business outcomes. 

The playbook targets C-suites, including chief sustainability officers, and Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) leads navigating a growing sustainability mandate. 

Practical Green Software Guide for Enterprises 

Green software refers to designing, developing, and operating software systems in a way that minimises their carbon footprint. This is relevant for businesses in any sector that develops ICT products or services.  

The Practical Green Software Guide for Enterprises aims to equip more businesses with the knowledge to adopt green software practices. Businesses can achieve early cost and carbon reductions by focusing on three practical steps: right-sizing AI models, designing leaner software, and tracking and monitoring energy usage and costs. 

Carbon Calculator for Cloud Services 

IMDA and the National University of Singapore’s Energy Studies Institute have developed Singapore-specific emission factors (“EFs”) for ICT services to help businesses measure emissions from cloud usage. EFs are multipliers that convert the usage of activity, such as cloud storage and virtual machines, into greenhouse gas emissions. 

Unlike top-down models which rely on broad industry averages and assumptions (such as average data centre energy use or generic grid emissions factors), Singapore’s EFs for cloud services estimate emissions using a bottom-up approach based on actual cloud usage and local operating conditions. This makes emissions tracking and reporting easier for enterprises in Singapore, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, without the need for extensive data collection. The methodology was developed by and validated with industry partners. 

IMDA has also launched a Carbon Calculator for Cloud Services to allow users to track emissions by service type, configuration of the cloud service, and the service duration. This enables businesses to develop mitigation strategies and better plan for their future digital infrastructure. 

Reference materials 

The following materials are available on the IMDA website www.imda.gov.sg: 

The EFs and carbon calculator are available on the Singapore Emission Factors Registry website sefr.netzerohub.sg.