2026 World Internet Conference Distinguished Contribution Award recipient: IBM (Social Contribution)
IBM is a global provider of hybrid cloud, AI and enterprise services, operating in 175 countries and regions. It supports digital transformation across key sectors, including finance, telecommunications and healthcare. With a long history of innovation, IBM integrates environmental protection, social responsibility and responsible technology into its business strategy. By bringing together its technology, talent and partners, the company aims to help build a more inclusive, trusted and sustainable digital society.
Driving green development through technological innovation
In response to climate change and the global energy transition, IBM is exploring ways to combine AI with green computing, improving efficiency while reducing energy consumption.
Its approach to sustainable AI spans models, platforms and hardware. Through Granite AI models, the Red Hat OpenShift AI platform, and energy-efficient computing systems such as IBM z17, LinuxONE 5 and Power11, IBM helps enterprises expand AI applications while making better use of computing resources and improving energy efficiency.
IBM is also making its own operations more sustainable. In 2025, renewable sources accounted for 84.5 percent of its global electricity consumption, while 44 data centers ran entirely on renewable electricity. The company implemented 634 energy-saving projects during the year, avoiding approximately 123,000 megawatt-hours of energy consumption and reducing emissions by around 35,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
IBM achieved its original 2025 greenhouse gas reduction target ahead of schedule in 2023 and continues to work toward net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Through its Envizi ESG management solutions, IBM also helps businesses manage environmental data, calculate carbon emissions and improve sustainability reporting, supporting their transition to greener operations.
