Eric Zie

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2025.

Eric Zie is a leader in sustainable digital transformation with over 30 years of experience in technology and innovation. As Vice Chair of TechUK's Climate Council and a UN ITU partner, he is shaping sustainable ICT.

A two-time Earthshot Prize nominee and Google Brain Award winner, Eric authored Decarbonise Digital and led key emissions measurement frameworks.

Founder of GoCodeGreen and GCG Learning Academy - both B-Corps - Eric drives IT sustainability. An independent advisor at Charsfield Research and Visiting Professor at KCL, UEA and Suffolk, Eric pioneers sustainable innovation, aligning digital transformation with environmental responsibility.

What's the most exciting part of your current role?

Driving environmental impact through technology and doing this through improving education and world leading measurement solutions. I love the ability to collaborate and empower organisations as they tackle their IT decarbonisation and use digital as a way to accelerate their journey toward net zero.

My role also provides the ability to influence through my vice chair of TechUK’s climate council and work stream lead role at the ITU, the United Nations specialised agency for ICT. In addition, my role as visiting professor in digital sustainability at Kings College London, UEA and University of Suffolk allow me to share my experiences with the next generation of computing graduates, to ensure we design and build sustainable digital and AI solutions of the future. This breadth of impact makes my role exciting, impactful on different dimensions and incredibly challenging!

What do you consider your greatest IT achievement of the last 12 months?

Partnering with a leading UK advisory and consulting business to baseline the environmental impact of their IT operations using GoCodeGreen's solutions. This collaboration enabled a comprehensive measurement of their carbon footprint across their UK operations, identifying key areas for efficiency and emissions reduction.

Building on this baseline, I worked with them to develop a multi-year decarbonisation strategy that integrates sustainability into their IT decision-making and operational practices. This strategy is now actively driving reductions, with a clear roadmap to achieve a 25% decrease in IT-related emissions over the next two years.

By embedding sustainability into their IT strategy, this project is not only delivering significant emissions reductions and cost efficiencies but also demonstrating how digital and technology-driven businesses can lead by example in environmental responsibility. This represents the coming-together of three years of solution building and using them in practice at scale to showcase demonstrable impact. Our next phase of work is to measure the impact of their AI use with our new tooling!

What's the biggest challenge facing IT leaders today, and how are you tackling it?

One of the biggest challenges facing IT leaders today is managing the explosive growth of AI while ensuring transparency, efficiency and sustainability. As organisations rapidly scale AI across their business, they face increasing complexity in understanding its environmental impact, operational costs, and compliance with evolving regulations.

To tackle this, we've been helping businesses bring transparency to their AI strategies by integrating robust measurement and reporting solutions. Our tools provide real-time insights into the carbon and energy footprint of AI workloads, helping organisations make informed decisions on optimisation, resource allocation, and sustainable scaling.

A newly developed measurement solution called CEDAR-AI is designed to embed sustainability and efficiency into AI deployment from the outset, we're enabling IT leaders to drive innovation while maintaining control over costs, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance. This ensures AI adoption remains a business enabler rather than a hidden risk.

What piece of technology could you not live without, and why?

The supercomputer in my pocket - my smartphone. It's a testament to how far computing has come, surpassing the power of Cray supercomputers from just a few decades ago. In my last published book, Sustainable AI, I explored how today's smartphones have exponentially more processing power than the systems once used for complex scientific computations and how this now fits into a device weighing less than 200 grams.

Beyond raw processing power, my smartphone is an AI-driven productivity engine. It seamlessly integrates high-powered AI applications that manage my schedule, optimise my workflows and enhance decision-making - whether through voice assistants, real-time data analysis or collaboration tools. It's not just a device; it's a personalised AI companion that boosts my efficiency, keeps me connected, and empowers me to drive impact in the digital sustainability space.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

How we are harnessing the power of computing, the rapid expansion of digital solutions and the unprecedented acceleration of innovation to solve some of the most pressing global challenges. The sheer pace at which technology is evolving is unlocking opportunities that were once unimaginable.

For example, geospatial technology is a game-changer, helping us map environmental changes in real time, track emissions and optimise resource management for a more sustainable future. Healthcare is also undergoing a seismic shift, with AI and digital technologies driving early disease detection, personalised medicine, and predictive analytics.

For me, the real opportunity lies in using technology for good - not just in managing its environmental footprint but in creating a foundation for sustainable digital growth and positive societal impact. IT has the potential to be a cornerstone in the fight against climate breakdown, enabling everything from intelligent energy grids and circular economy solutions to carbon-aware AI models and data-driven policymaking. By embedding sustainability, ethics, and resilience at the heart of digital transformation, we can ensure technology doesn't just progress - it actively shapes a better, more sustainable world.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

Working as a photographer's assistant on a National Geographic expedition to China, documenting the lives of Buddhist monks. It was an entirely different world from the one I operate in today, but it gave me a unique perspective on discipline, simplicity and the deep relationship between people and their environment.

The expedition took us into remote monasteries, where we spent time capturing the daily rituals, spiritual practices and quiet, contemplative lives of the monks. It was surreal to witness such a contrast to modern, technology-driven life - no digital devices, no distractions, just a pure focus on mindfulness and routine. The patience required for the perfect shot mirrored the monks' own philosophy of living in the present, which was a profound lesson in itself.

The experience also gave me an early appreciation for the power of storytelling through technology. The ability to capture a moment and translate it into something that can inspire and educate people stick with me. In many ways, it reinforced my passion for using technology as a way of driving awareness and connecting people.

If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?

The ability to design a zero-emissions computer. Computing underpins everything in our modern world, from AI to finance, healthcare, and scientific discovery - but its environmental impact is significant. Imagine a system that operates with zero emissions, harnessing next-generation materials, ultra-efficient architectures and renewable energy in a way that completely eliminates waste and carbon footprint.

This isn't just about reducing energy consumption; it's about rethinking the entire lifecycle of computing - from manufacturing and supply chains to energy use and end-of-life recycling. A zero-emissions computer would redefine sustainable digital infrastructure, enabling AI and high-performance computing without the growing environmental cost.

Mastering this skill would mean accelerating the future of green technology, making computing a true force for good!