Cyber Innovations at The Global Sustainability Awards 2026

The Global Sustainability Awards will take place on 8 September 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London.

The event includes a black-tie gala dinner that brings together companies, organisations and executives working on sustainable business practices across digital infrastructure sectors.

Eight categories feature in the awards programme. Sustainability takes different forms across technology and data centre operations.

Cybersecurity protects sustainable infrastructure

Organisations can use the awards to demonstrate their work in sustainable innovation across data centre and technology sectors. The programme provides industry marketing, media coverage and recognition at the ceremony. This could enhance brand visibility among stakeholders in digital infrastructure.

The event connects senior executives, sustainability specialists and technology leaders. The platform could support networking and collaboration at executive level.

Participation shows a commitment to environmental performance, operational efficiency and responsible growth. Companies can strengthen their credibility through involvement.

Alignment with the awards programme could provide access to business opportunities. Recognition comes for technologies and strategies that support a sustainable digital economy.

Entries for the Global Awards 2026 close on 29 June 2026. Final judging and shortlisting will be announced in July.

Digital security enables climate technology

AI, cybersecurity, digital technologies and sustainable data centres serve as enablers of global sustainability.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, AI can help monitor climate change, predict environmental risks, improve resource efficiency, support circular economy initiatives, encourage sustainable consumer behaviour and strengthen evidence-based policymaking.

AI systems are being used to detect methane emissions, provide flood and drought early warnings, optimise agricultural resource use and analyse progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

These applications depend on protected data flows and secure operational systems.

Research highlighted by the World Economic Forum demonstrates how AI supports climate monitoring, smart-energy grids, sustainable urban planning, environmental protection, recycling and precision agriculture.

Organisations use these tools to reduce emissions, waste and resource consumption.

Digital infrastructure requires robust cybersecurity frameworks. These frameworks protect critical environmental data, operational systems and essential services from disruption.

Without secure foundations, climate monitoring tools and sustainable operations face threats from cyberattacks.

Data centres reduce environmental footprint

Google reports that its data centres deliver more than six times the computing power per unit of electricity compared with five years ago.

The company maintains a 100% renewable energy match globally since 2017 and invests billions in clean energy projects.

Google highlights the importance of water stewardship, responsible cooling technologies and carbon-free energy in reducing the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure. Security measures protect these efficient operations from external threats.

IBM notes that green data centres use energy-efficient technologies, advanced cooling systems, virtualization, renewable energy sources, waste-heat recovery and responsible equipment recycling.

These measures minimise environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.

AI, cybersecurity, advanced technologies and sustainable data centres create resilient digital foundations. These systems could accelerate decarbonisation, optimise resource use, support climate resilience and enable a more sustainable future.

Technology awards recognise security innovation

At The Global Awards, The Tech & AI Award is marked on four criteria. These include how technology or AI has been applied to solve a sustainability challenge and what measurable impact or improvement has been achieved.

Judges assess how the initiative has improved data-driven decision-making or efficiency. They also evaluate what innovation or scalability potential the solution offers.

The Transformation Project of the Year is ranked on different measures. Judges examine the key objectives and outcomes of projects and what actions or innovations were implemented to achieve transformation.

Assessment includes measurable results or benefits achieved post-completion. The evaluation considers how projects contribute to the wider data centre ecosystem or industry progress.

Previous winners demonstrate secure solutions

Last year's winners showed how innovation, technology and sustainable business practices can create environmental and social impact. Secure systems protected these implementations from operational disruption.

The AI in Sustainability Award was won by IFS, with GIST Impact receiving Highly Commended recognition. IFS, a global enterprise software company, was recognised for its AI-powered Planning and Scheduling Optimisation solution.

The solution helps industrial organisations reduce carbon emissions by cutting travel, fuel consumption and waste. It supports broader decarbonisation goals through protected data processing.

"We've won the AI in Sustainability Award for our solution PSO," says Michael Backstone, Global Climate Strategy Manager at IFS.

"PSO is a scheduling optimisation engine that delivers a combination of operational, commercial and sustainability benefits.

"So it really is a win win win for customers.

"It's AI-driven using agentic flows and it gives our customers the ability to optimise all of their resources and drive sustainability benefits at the same time."

Protected systems support restoration work

Terraformation secured both the SME Company of the Year Award and the Sustainable Technology Award. Jet Plant Hire was highly commended in the SME category.

ECL & Croda Beauty received highly commended recognition in the Sustainable Technology Award.

Founded in 2020 by Yishan Wong, former CEO of Reddit, Terraformation was recognised for combining measurable ESG impact with innovative technology.

The company accelerates biodiverse reforestation worldwide through protected digital platforms.

Terraformation uses seed banks, nursery kits, solar-powered desalination systems and its open-source Terraware platform.

The company supports local and Indigenous communities, creates jobs and helps scale restoration projects globally. Cybersecurity protects the data that coordinates these distributed operations.

The Sustainable Finance Award was awarded to Scala Data Centers, with Cisco & Terraformation highly commended.

Upon receiving the award, Ana Luiza Rodrigues, Sustainability Manager at Scala Data Centers, said: "It's a great honour to be here and to represent Scala Data Centers at this important award.

"This recognition means a lot to us.

"I want to thank our scholars, my leaders and all of you.

"Thank you so much."

Founded in 2020, Scala Data Centers was recognised for sustainable digital infrastructure through innovative green debenture issuances.

The company operates hyperscale facilities powered by 100% renewable energy and delivers carbon-neutral, highly efficient data centre services across Latin America.

Innovations include HVO-powered backup systems and renewable self-generation projects, all protected by security frameworks that maintain operational integrity.