Eric Zie | The People Behind Tech for Good👐

Meet Eric Zie , a technologist driven by a mission to use tech for good. After roles in startups and financial services, Eric founded GoCodeGreen | B Corp™ to tackle climate change by reducing the digital world’s carbon footprint. In 2024, he won the 2024 President’s Award for his work in digital sustainability. Through his roles as a researcher, advisor, and visiting professor, Eric is shaping a greener future for technology.

We chatted with Eric to find out more about his path, his passions, the future and tech for good!

🟢 Eric, introduce yourself. What makes you, uniquely you?

My name is Eric Zie, and I am a career technologist, the founder of the ClimateTech company GoCodeGreen, and an independent researcher and advisor. My path has taken me from working with new media startups to innovation roles in financial services, before ultimately finding my place—leading initiatives to combat climate change through my passion for technology.

While I used to dabble in long-distance cycling and triathlons, these days I dedicate every moment to addressing the biggest challenge of our time. When I do manage to carve out some downtime, you'll find me barbecuing or enjoying a martini—always gin, stirred, and never shaken.

As for music, I can never quite decide between Snow Patrol, Stereophonics, and The Verve, though my default is usually jazz. My favourite cuisines are Japanese and Italian, and my favourite colour is green.

I relocated from London to Suffolk 11 years ago, and it has been the perfect place to call home and raise a family. I also share my life with Belle, a sprocker spaniel and my best non-human companion, who even stars alongside me in my manga comic adventures (you’ll need to grab a copy of my books to see our full manga story!).

🟢What can you tell us about your early years?

I arrived in the UK in 1976, having been born in Hong Kong. I came with my brother, sister, mother, and adoptive father. Right from the start, I became known for standing up to bullies and racists, which often landed me in trouble at school (and can we please stop putting them in charge of the free world?). I still vividly remember stepping into London during a scorching summer heatwave, only to be greeted by swarms of flying ants!

Now, I understand that flying ants thrive during long periods of intense heat. To illustrate this, I often show NASA's heat map from that summer, highlighting hotspots across Western Europe. When I compare it to the map from June 2022, the difference is stark: the global temperature anomaly has shifted from -0.15°C to +0.93°C. Witnessing such dramatic changes within my own lifetime fuels my determination to act against climate change. Who would have thought that the boy who arrived not speaking a word of English, with a less-than-stellar school record, would one day lead efforts in digital sustainability?

Today, I’m a visiting professor, a funded researcher, an author, and the founder of an innovative tech business. One key lesson I’ve learnt along the way is that if you are passionate about something and willing to work hard—and then keep working—you can create real change. That fighting spirit has certainly come in handy.

🟢Tell us more about the work you are currently doing...

I’m currently leading initiatives at GoCodeGreen, the climate-tech company I founded, where we focus on reducing the carbon impact of digital products and services. My work revolves around creating actionable solutions for digital decarbonisation through technology. I’m deeply passionate about sustainable software engineering and conducting cutting-edge research in AI to help reduce ICT emissions.

The urgency of tackling climate change drives me both personally and professionally. I believe it’s crucial for society to recognise that the digital world, which supports nearly every aspect of modern life, has a significant environmental impact. If we don’t change our practices, the ICT sector alone could consume up to 20% of global energy by 2030.

This work is vital because while digital technologies have immense potential to promote sustainability across sectors, we must also make conscious efforts to reduce their own environmental footprint.

GoCodeGreen is actively inspiring meaningful action by providing organisations with a platform to measure, identify, and act on carbon reduction opportunities within their software products and services. One of our most significant achievements has been working with over 40 organisations, where we’ve identified up to 53% in carbon reduction opportunities and cost efficiency savings of between 15 and 25%. I truly believe that the team at GoCodeGreen is making a positive impact.

Technology is at the heart of our efforts at GoCodeGreen. Through our platform, we deliver quantifiable, consistent, and repeatable assessments across the software lifecycle, grounded in the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol ICT Guidance and ISO standards. We pinpoint areas for improvement, making it easier for organisations to decarbonise their use of ICT and digital technologies.

At GoCodeGreen, we don’t just measure carbon impact; we help organisations take action on it. I’ve also created educational programmes through the GCG Learning Academy, training over 500 students in sustainable software practices to instill a culture of digital decarbonisation among the next generation of engineers, designers, and leaders. This focus on education, combined with our commitment to measurement, highlights our holistic approach to driving real, positive change. Our efforts have recently been recognised by Gartner, which reinforces the growing need for our capabilities and solutions. By developing a comprehensive set of tools and methodologies and partnering with global institutions, we are actively shaping a more sustainable future for the digital world.

Recognition such as The Earthshot Prize nomination, the techUK Planet Award, and achieving B Lab UK (B-Corp) certification reinforce our mission to use technology as a force for good.

Through my combined efforts in independent research and advisory, along with product innovation and education at GoCodeGreen, I aim to be at the forefront of a movement that positions the ICT sector as a leader in global decarbonisation.

🟢Let’s talk tech for good. What does tech for good mean to you?

To me, "tech for good" means leveraging the immense power of technology to drive positive change for society and the environment. It's about developing and applying technology in ways that are not just innovative but also responsible, sustainable, and human-centric. In a world where digital products and services permeate every aspect of life, tech for good is the guiding principle that ensures technology becomes an enabler of positive environmental and social impact rather than a contributor to global issues like climate change.

I envision a future where technology, guided by a human-led approach, becomes a cornerstone of sustainability. This means empowering organisations to integrate sustainability into their digital strategies by using technology to measure, reduce, and optimise their environmental footprint. All the various aspects of my work, visiting professorships, research, and advisory embodies this vision. Ultimately, "tech for good" is about driving a systemic shift in how we view and use technology. It means transforming ICT and digital sectors into leaders in global decarbonisation while building a foundation for future growth that respects planetary boundaries. By creating a technology landscape that is efficient, transparent, and aligned with sustainable practices, we can ensure that digital progress goes hand-in-hand with the well-being of people and the planet.

🟢Who or what is currently serving as a source of inspiration for you?

When I think about true inspiration, I can’t help but think of my brother, Jeff. He was one of the most passionate individuals I’ve known, deeply committed to making the world a better place. It is nearly three years ago that we lost him, and not a day goes by that I don't think about the energy and compassion he brought into everything he did. His passion for helping society and the planet has been a constant source of inspiration for me, driving my work in digital sustainability.

He taught me that the first step in changing the world is changing how we think and treat each other. This is why mental health awareness has become a critical part of my mission. We need to look out for one another, to be present and kind, because you never know the battles someone else might be fighting.

He once told me,“Changing how people think and doing good is hard”

He was right—it is hard. But it’s also incredibly necessary. His words remind me every day that the path to meaningful change is not easy, but when tackling something as significant as climate change, it’s a path we must take.

To anyone reading this: know that small acts of kindness and understanding can make a tremendous impact. By listening, supporting, and uplifting each other, we can overcome the challenges that stand in our way. Jeff remains my personal inspiration for doing good.

🟢Looking into the future, what aspects worry and excite you the most, and why?

When I look into the future, I feel both worried and excited. The aspects that concern me most are the accelerating impacts of climate change and the rapid growth of the digital sector's carbon footprint. We are not meeting the terms of the Paris Agreement and are exceeding every safe tipping point identified by science. Our challenge is not just technological but systemic. For those of us in tech, the growing energy consumption and environmental impact of digital products and services pose a real threat if left unaddressed.

What keeps me up at night is the thought that the technological progress we've made may come at the expense of our planet's health.

On the other hand, what excites me is the immense potential of technology to drive positive change. Emerging fields like Generative AI and data-driven automation present incredible opportunities to optimise energy use, reduce carbon footprints, and create more sustainable digital products. I’m particularly thrilled about the growing awareness and action among businesses, governments, and the tech community. The shift towards embracing sustainable practices in digital strategies is gaining momentum, and I believe we are on the cusp of transformative change.

To collectively tackle the challenges ahead, we need a concerted effort that brings together technological innovation, education, policy-making, and human action. It’s about integrating sustainability into the DNA of every digital product and process. As I often advocate, measurement is the first step towards meaningful action. We need to quantify the environmental impact of our digital world and use that data to drive targeted improvements. Collaboration across sectors is crucial as well—sharing best practices, setting industry standards, and pushing for transparency in emissions reporting can lead to significant collective impact.

My advice for building a better future is straightforward: be relentless in your pursuit of change, and never underestimate the power of small actions. Whether you’re an engineer, a business leader, or a policymaker, you have a role to play. Focus on creating tangible outcomes—no matter how incremental—and always seek to align your actions with the broader goal of digital sustainability.

Remember, the fight against climate change is not just about solving a technological problem; it’s about redefining how we live and interact with our planet. By harnessing technology thoughtfully and responsibly, we can build a future that thrives in harmony with our environment.

🟢How do you feel about winning techUK's #PresidentsAward 2024?

Winning the President's Award in the Planet category is a tremendous honour, especially because it represents recognition from a community of peers who truly understand the challenges and opportunities in the tech sector. To me, the greatest value of any award comes from being assessed by those who share a deep understanding of your work. It validates the relentless efforts I’ve put into driving digital sustainability and inspires me to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

For next year’s nominees and winners, I can assure you that you’ll have the opportunity to face a polite yet insightful grilling from the incredible panel of judges! It’s an experience that not only recognises your achievements but also helps sharpen your vision and strategy moving forward. My message to future participants is to embrace this process—it’s a rare chance to receive feedback and insights from some of the best minds in our field.

Winning an award is just the beginning. These awards should serve as catalysts for change, accelerating action across all TechUK members. I strongly encourage winners to work closely with the TechUK community to leverage this platform for good. Together, we have the power to drive meaningful impact and set new standards for what it means to be a responsible tech organisation. Let’s use these awards as fuel to continue the journey towards a more sustainable digital future.

🌍 Join us in London on 16 October for the 2024 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲! Discover how the tech industry is driving towards net zero and helping other sectors achieve it too.

🎟️ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://bit.ly/3SDlsfg  

🤝 About our Tech for Good work 🤝

At techUK, our mission is to champion our members and their technologies, preparing and empowering the UK for what comes next. We believe that by doing so, we can deliver a better future for people, society, the economy, and the planet. We are committed to supporting emerging social innovators who are tackling today's most pressing challenges through technology while also demystifying tech for all. "The People Behind Tech for Good" is a series of interviews that aim to spotlight rising social innovators who are addressing today's most pressing challenges through technology.

🔗 Find out more how to get involved with our #TechForGood work - email Tânia Teixeira (tania.teixeira@techuk.org).

🟢🟡🔵🟣 Visit our hub page here!