Technology sector’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities in the second quarter of 2025 have been characterized by incremental progress and pragmatic approaches to changing geopolitical circumstances, reveals Tech ESG Watch, a quarterly newsletter by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Robert Pritchard, Principal Analyst, Enterprise Technology & Services at GlobalData, comments: “In the same way that climate change is a slow but ongoing process, so is the tech sector’s response. This is not a criticism, it’s a fact. But the combined efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to play a positively impactful role in the markets where they operate, and to uphold high standards of governance still lead the market.”

The quarterly update identified a range of sustainability initiatives such as recycling of equipment by Virgin Media O2 Business, commitments to renewable energy by Maxis, and NTT DATA joining the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Pritchard adds: “None of these activities make a significant difference in and of themselves, but the collective impact across the industry is substantial – and shows an ongoing commitment to tackling the climate crisis.”

Despite a sometimes-hostile pushback on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), there is widespread and continued commitment to support communities across all markets. This ranges from Vodafone’s m-mama emergency services app saving the lives of women having difficulties giving birth in Africa, to Spectrum’s digital education grants for communities across the US.

Pritchard explains: “Tech companies know they can make a difference – and that it is good for their customers, their employees, and their brands. On some occasions, they have had to adopt pragmatic tactics, such as removing their overt DEI commitments to gain approval for acquisitions in the US, but ultimately, they have a duty to their shareholders as well as all their other stakeholders.”

Pritchard concludes: “Tech companies live in the real world. At the moment it is particularly turbulent both in terms of geopolitics and rapid technology evolution such as AI (Artificial Intelligence). A long-term commitment to sustainability and a pragmatic day-to-day approach to operations makes total sense.”