Resilient by Design: Akamai’s Data-Driven Path to Climate Adaptation

As we increasingly feel the impacts of climate change, the message is clear: Businesses worldwide must adapt to thrive in our rapidly changing environment. For Akamai, dealing with climate change is more than just a checkbox for corporate responsibility; we believe climate change is a severe risk that demands thoughtful and immediate action.

Operating one of the largest and most distributed digital platforms on the planet means we have to weave climate resilience into our long-term strategy, ensuring we’re ready for whatever the future brings.

One of our most vital tools for building climate resilience is data. But how does this work in practice, and what does it mean for our business and the digital world?

You may have heard of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the term “representative concentration pathways” (RCPs), but it may all sound a bit abstract.  Let’s break it down.

RCPs are models that scientists use to project different climate outcomes based on our greenhouse gas emissions. They paint a picture of how our choices today — like investing in renewable energy or continuing to burn fossil fuels — can shape our world tomorrow. These scenarios range from best-case outcomes to worst-case projections and show the profound effects on things like global temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather patterns.

At Akamai, we don’t just examine these scenarios from an academic perspective; we use them to make accurate, actionable decisions. By analyzing various climate projections, we can prepare for a wide range of possible futures. This forward-thinking approach enables us to safeguard our global infrastructure, ensure that our services remain reliable and secure, and contribute meaningfully to the world’s climate efforts.

Climate change brings challenges that touch every corner of our business. Imagine the strain on our energy systems as global temperatures climb, making our cooling systems work harder. Or consider how hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events could disrupt our network infrastructure in critical areas. Navigating these challenges demands that we stay nimble and proactive.

But it’s not all bad news. These challenges present opportunities for innovation and progress. For example, increasing energy efficiency supports our ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2030. Using 100% renewable energy across our operations is not just a nice-to-have goal; it’s a strategic investment in our future.

The technologies we adopt, from data-driven insights to distributed energy solutions, help us mitigate climate risks while simultaneously advancing our sustainability commitments. And, in the process, we position Akamai as a leader in setting industry standards for resilience and innovation.

Our climate resilience strategy is rooted in three focus areas — strengthening infrastructure, improving energy management, and maintaining network reliability — and our decisions are grounded in the best available data, thanks to our most recent RCP analysis.

• The challenge: Rising sea levels, soaring temperatures, and frequent natural disasters threaten our global infrastructure. We must proactively prepare to withstand these events and minimize potential disruptions.
• The opportunity: We’re investing in adaptive, climate-ready infrastructure to protect our operations while making them more efficient and sustainable. Our approach focuses on working with our data center partners to ensure that they put climate-ready defenses in place, integrate renewable energy solutions, and build efficiencies across their facilities. These enhancements aren’t just about survival but about future-proofing our operations.

• The challenge: A warming planet puts stress on power grids, which increases cooling demands and raises the risk of energy shortages.
• The opportunity: We can reduce our overhead and emissions by optimizing our energy use with cutting-edge technology, like AI-based decision-making, and expanding our use of renewables. Effective energy management provides superior stability, making us better equipped to handle the realities of a changing climate.

• The challenge: Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, can jeopardize our network operations and disrupt the delivery of our services.
• The opportunity: To counter this, we’re continuously expanding our edge compute capabilities and investing in adaptive technologies to diversify our risk. This approach strengthens our network and ensures that we can continue to deliver reliable service, even when natural disasters strike.

Addressing climate change isn’t just about doing the right thing; it also involves thoughtful financial planning. The economic risks of climate change are real, and we’re mindful of the potential costs.

However, we also see the upside of investing in resilience and efficiency. By being proactive, we are better positioned to manage financial pressures and maximize our resources. In the end, addressing climate change is about balancing short-term challenges with the long-term benefits of a more stable, resilient future.

Adaptation is only part of our strategy. We’re also committed to reducing our carbon footprint to make a meaningful impact. By pledging to use 100% renewable energy focused on putting impact first and working toward net-zero emissions, we’re not just preparing for climate change but actively helping to prevent it. This dual approach — adapting to the changes we can’t avoid while working to mitigate further damage — ensures our efforts are holistic and impactful.

Our commitment doesn’t stop with our operations. We’re partnering with groups like the Clean Energy Buyers Association, Ceres, the ZEROgrid Initiative, and the Emissions First Partnership to drive emissions reductions across our entire supply chain. Collaboration amplifies our impact and allows us to contribute to global solutions and encourage our industry to follow suit.

We know that climate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time. But it’s also an incredible opportunity to take bold, meaningful action. At Akamai, we believe we can help lead the way to a more resilient future through strategic investments, data-driven insights, and a concrete commitment to sustainability. However, this is not something we can do alone.

Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities to build a thriving, and more sustainable future.

The future may be uncertain, but it is within our power to shape it. With accurate data, the right technology, and a shared sense of purpose, we can build a more resilient world. Let’s start today for a stronger, more sustainable tomorrow.