Energy and carbon emissions in information technology projects: a systematic review and an integrated sustainable software framework
Parbinder Kaur Bhullar, Nicholas Dacre, David BaxterPurpose
This paper examines the extent to which information technology projects (ITP) measure and integrate energy and carbon emissions into planning and execution and proposes a structured framework for embedding environmental sustainability into ITP.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was conducted using a three-stage process of planning, conducting and reviewing. Inclusion and exclusion were governed by the PRISMA method across three databases (Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest), covering 2012 to 2024. Thematic synthesis was applied to 72 academic papers and 16 grey literature sources to identify emergent themes through open, axial and selective coding.
Findings
Five interconnected themes were identified: Sustainable IT Skills, Sustainable IT Strategy, Implementing Sustainable IT, Sustainable IT Operations and Sustainable IT Regulations. The Integrated Sustainable Software (ISS) Framework is proposed to address these gaps by providing a structured, methodology-agnostic approach to integrating sustainability into ITP governance and execution.
Research limitations/implications
Future research should examine framework adoption in practice and explore sector-specific sustainability metrics.
Practical implications
The ISS Framework provides project managers and IT leaders with actionable guidance for embedding carbon and energy metrics into project governance, planning and execution.
Social implications
Embedding sustainability into ITP supports broader societal progress towards net-zero targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Originality/value
This paper presents a systematic literature review focused specifically on energy and carbon emissions within ITP. It introduces the ISS Framework as a methodology-agnostic instrument for sustainable software project management.