PodChats for FutureCFO: How STT GDC is driving ESG

With businesses and governments becoming more digital, this puts the onus on data centres, regardless of who owns or operates these, to provide the computing, data storage and connectivity resources to deliver on the promises of the digital, connected economy.According to Knight Frank Research, the APAC data centres market saw growth of 24% in 2021 with an increase of 185MW of new capacity across the region in Q4 and 1.500GW for the year. As Singapore lift a two-year moratorium on building data centres and sustainability becomes an even greater issue for businesses, how will new data centre build-outs impact the environment? Just as important, how can CFOs help address sustainability objectives as part of their overall ESG initiatives?Nelson Lim, group CFO for ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, spoke to FutureCFO to elaborate on how STT GDC is addressing calls for greater emphasis on sustainability in the drive for growth.Click on the PodChat player and hear Lim elaborate on how CFOs can help manage ESG directives in the data centre. 1.       Before we go into our topic proper, perhaps you can provide a quick introduction of ST Telemedia in the context of its GDC business. (170 DCs in XX markets)2.       How do you see the role of CFOs in driving the success of their company’s ESG initiatives?3.       As CFOs address the issues around ESG, how should they prepare for this? Where should they start? What do they need to know?4.       Should companies integrate their ESG reporting with their financial reporting? How?5.       What are the challenges CFOs face in helping drive their company’s ESG commitments and how can they resolve them?6.       How can technology help CFOs fulfil their expanded role where ESG is concerned?7.       I understand that STT GDC is planning to roll out a new data centre in Seoul. As STT GDC CFO, how do you balance the desires for growth versus ESG targets?