CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2024 is underway and why YOU should care
Uniting Technology and Sustainability for a Brighter Future
In our modern world, technology and sustainability can harmoniously coexist, creating a brighter future. Each of us can contribute to this by adopting innovative and eco-friendly practices. CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week provides a forum and a unique opportunity to reflect on how we can evolve and innovate together, sustainably.
After the successful 2023 edition of the event, planning for this year’s edition is already underway, with a renewed commitment to increasingly green and engaging initiatives.
But let’s start from the beginning.
What is CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week?
The CNCF Sustainability Week is an annual event that is organized by the CNCF Technical Advisory Group for Environmental Sustainability (TAG ENV) in collaboration with the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). The main goal of the event is to promote environmental sustainability in the cloud native industry and open source space.
This global event, which includes both in-person meet-ups and virtual sessions, is organized by local tech communities around the world and coordinated by the TAG ENV. We believe that by encouraging such global intercontinental collaboration, we can enable people from all over the globe to understand how sustainability is an integral factor in the technology sector and how, sometimes with very little, technological and innovative initiatives can be carried out while respecting the environment.
Before delving into the details around CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week, let’s take a look at what the CNCF TAG ENV is.
Introducing CNCF Technical Advisory Group for Environmental Sustainability (TAG ENV)
The CNCF TAG ENV is a Technical Advisory Group that’s driven by passionate individuals who are committed to developing guidelines, tools, and practices to integrate sustainability into cloud native technologies. Its main purpose is to share tools and best practices to reduce the environmental impact of technological infrastructures, proposing innovative strategies and practical solutions.
TAG ENV regularly organizes meetings, including initiatives such as promoting Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2024. TAG ENV is an open group, and anyone wishing to contribute and actively participate in the group and its activities can do so. The group is focused on transparency, inclusion and active collaboration between its contributors that sparks innovation and creates further opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable cloud native and open source space.
If you would like to join TAG ENV, participate in discussions, and contribute to the groups activities like planning the Cloud Native Sustainability Week, you can join the CNCF Slack channel, #tag-environmental-sustainability, attend regular TAG ENV meetings, or collaborate together with other contributors on the TAG ENV GitHub issues. Last year we wrote a blog post that does a deep-dive into how you can start contributing to the TAG ENV, and if it sounds interesting then we encourage you to check it out for more details!
New contributors are always welcome and we would love to have YOU join us! Every contribution, big or small, can make a difference in realizing a greener and more sustainable technological future.
Sneak Peek into CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2024
This week provides a unique opportunity to actively engage in promoting sustainability in the cloud native and open source space. There are multiple ways to participate, allowing everyone to find the format most suitable to their needs and interests. Whether you prefer in-person meetings for a more direct and interactive experience or virtual sessions for greater flexibility, there’s an option for you. Additionally, you can also take the initiative to organize a local meetup where you live, contributing to spreading sustainable practices in your local community.
- In-Person Meetups: Join events and meetups organized by local communities around the world. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss regional challenges and learn about innovative solutions for sustainability.
- Virtual Sessions: Participate in webinars, workshops, and online discussions organized by the TAG ENV to explore topics such as renewable energy and IT resource optimization.
- Speak at an Event: Propose a session on sustainability topics at a local or online meetup. This is an opportunity to share your ideas and actively contribute to the sustainability discussions.
A Look Back at CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2023
In 2023, the CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week saw significant and diverse participation.
Over 22 meetups were organized in more than 17 countries, involving numerous international speakers and thousands of participants. The events covered a wide range of topics, from renewable energy to IT resource optimization.
Reflecting back on last year’s event, which was also organized for the first time, we see that it was a huge success! Based on the feedback from the community, it contributed to:
- Increased Awareness: Awareness campaigns reached a broader audience, educating on sustainable practices through articles, social media posts, and webinars.
- Community Engagement: Active participation facilitated the sharing of knowledge and best practices, creating a network of sustainability supporters.
- Successful Initiatives: Specific projects were launched, such as improving IT infrastructures to reduce energy consumption.
If you would like to relive the highlights of the Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2023 and hear some significant testimonials about the event, check out the following video. This video gathers the experiences of participants and organizers, offering an inspiring look at the conducted activities and highlighting the most memorable moments from the event. We’ve also published a blog post wrapping up the CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2023: Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2023 - putting sustainability on the community radar
The CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week needs YOU!
The success of the CNCF Sustainability Week relies on the contribution of passionate volunteers, and there are several ways you can help:
- Organizing Events: If you’re willing, you can organize an event, support other local gatherings, or virtual sessions. This role is crucial to ensure each event runs smoothly and reaches its full potential.
- Sharing Your Expertise: If you have experience in sustainable practices or cloud native technologies, consider hosting a session or workshop. Sharing your knowledge can have a significant impact and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.
- Active Participation: Even just attending events, promoting them within your network, and sharing your ideas can help create a more aware and engaged community. Every voice counts, and your contribution can make a difference.
Join us in promoting sustainable practices and making a difference. For more information and to sign up as a volunteer, visit the TAG ENV website.
Are YOU joining us at the CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2024?
CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2024 provides an unmissable opportunity to make a positive impact for anyone interested in making the technology sector more sustainable by fostering innovation and collaboration with a broader community. By participating in the event, you’ll not only gain new knowledge and skills but also contribute to a global movement aimed at protecting our planet for future generations. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference!
Every participant, every volunteer, and every shared idea can contribute to real and lasting change. Together, we can build a future where technology not only coexists with global sustainability goals but actively contributes to reaching those goals. Your participation can inspire others, create new connections, and pave the way for sustainable innovations that will make a difference.
No matter your level of experience or where you are in the world, there’s always a way to contribute. Join us in making 2024 a turning point for sustainability in cloud native and open source technologies.
For more information and to participate, visit the official CNCF Cloud Native Sustainability Week page that will soon be published on the TAG ENV website. Until the page is made available on the website, please refer to the Cloud Native Sustainability Week 2024 tracking issue on GitHub to flag your interest.