Sandra Tello

COVID-19 has created challenges that were previously unimaginable, but it has also given us an incredible opportunity to reinvent and rebuild ourselves. In my last blog post we saw how digitalisation and decarbonisation will go hand in hand as catalysts for change in the coming years. Technology companies are fully aware of the importance of ESG and we are a key player in the environmental value chain, both as a source of emissions and as a key enabler of efficiencies through the different services and solutions we offer to our customers. Telefónica Tech has extensive experience helping our customers improve their performance by helping them build responsible businesses, including sustainability by design. Our portfolio of decarbonisation solutions is already delivering tangible results for our customers. Our cloud-based services coupled with cybersecurity allows: Eliminating of multiple local servers that are inefficient in terms of energy consumption. Increased server utilisation rates in shared infrastructures. Obtaining the best value, performance and security of the infrastructure. Using modern leading-edge infrastructure, which reduces energy loss through better cooling and air conditioning. Reducing wasted computing resources through dynamic provisioning allocation. Enabling remote collaboration, flexible working practices and therefore reduce commuting. Telefónica Tech's cloud services are based on highly efficient data centres that help customers reduce their energy consumption, avoiding CO2 emissions and therefore contributing to fighting climate change. Throughout the pandemic, it has been proven that reducing commuting, as a result of hybrid or remote working, can prevent around 1.4 tonnes of CO2 per person per year from being released into the atmosphere. On the other hand, according to a study carried out by the consulting firm Accenture, migration to the public cloud reduces the carbon footprint by 60 million tonnes per year, reducing IT emissions by almost 6%. Telefónica Tech, through our IoT, Big Data, AI and Blockchain services, helps our customers optimise their business by making data-driven decisions that minimise environmental impact. For example, we offer end-to-end solutions for energy efficiency, smart water and gas management, and smart production solutions for agricultural and livestock environments. These types of solutions are already making a real difference in terms of sustainability for our customers. As a result, we have seen water telemetry reduce water leakage by 35%, reduce operating and maintenance costs by 20% and improve customer satisfaction rates by up to 60%. Thanks to our collaboration with Vertical Green we have managed to reduce water consumption by 95% for clients such as Onubafruit; at the same time, we have increased the production of organic vegetables by 40%. At Tendam, thanks to the implementation of Telefónica Tech's energy efficiency solution in 36 of its establishments, we achieved a saving of more than 15% in energy consumption in the shops. On the other hand, thanks to smart waste management through our mobility management solutions (fleet management, asset tracking, etc.), we managed to reduce fuel consumption by around 10-15%, thus optimising waste collection routes and generating a positive impact on the environment. As part of our collaboration with Ecoembes, we have set up smart yellow bins, an accessible and sustainable technology for public administrations to facilitate recycling and thus support the circular economy. These are just a few examples of how digital transformation can contribute to a positive impact on society and the sustainability of the planet. There is certainly a growing opportunity for a new economy that puts innovation and respect for the environment at its core. Telefónica Tech therefore wants to support its customers in their journey towards a green digital transformation.

The pandemic has highlighted the need for STEM profiles The coronavirus pandemic is estimated to have accelerated digitalisation by 5 to 10 years. This means that the technology sector will generate the most net employment in the coming years, but the gender gap in this sector is a reality that cannot be ignored. Half of European companies in the technology sector claim to have difficulties in finding the right specialised profiles for their needs. Last year, technological employment in Spain accounted for 3.8% of employment in the country as a whole, a div that is one point below the European average. In addition, this sector is clearly male dominated, with female ICT experts accounting for only 19.8% of the total. Girls don't want to study STEM careers The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) career field, unlike other sectors, remains an obstacle course for women, and this is felt by girls from an early age. It is estimated that only 30% of women in the world study STEM careers. This percentage drops to 3 per cent in information and communication technology careers or 8 % in engineering careers. This is due to several reasons; the environment is very influential as well as having references. In addition, women working in STEM fields tend to be paid less than their male counterparts and, even more seriously, the likelihood that they will drop out of their careers is very high, estimated to be around 35% in the United States. Multiple reports show how girls are biased, disappointed and uninterested in technology. Diversity benefits us all: #LadyHacker COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on women. But in turn, it has confirmed the strengths that women bring in terms of leadership and shown that gender diversity, in teams and in decision-making, leads to better outcomes for all. According to a recent study by McKinsey, gender equality would add $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Fortunately, it is not all negative data. Children, because of COVID-19, have been able to see for themselves the relevance of technology in their family life, at school, in the media, in films and in literature. They have begun to see successful women in the field of research and science, epidemiologists and health scientists, data analysts and mathematicians. And by seeing these women rise to the top, children see the world with greater respect for all and equality. More and more schools are making a differential commitment to include robotics and programming subjects from a very early age, which allows universal access to training in the STEM professional field and contributes to girls' greater confidence and interest in technology. Promoting technological vocation among girls through awareness and guidance actions given by professional women from the world of research, science and technology is precisely the objective of Telefónica Tech's global initiative #LadyHacker. Because it is important to help girls to fulfil their dreams and to show them that there is no impossible profession. To show them that it is possible to go further and better, although there is still a long way to go.