IDC Highlights AI Predictions Shaping Asia/Pacific as IT Buyers Prioritize ESG and Responsible AI Standards, Driving Sustainable Strategies and Green AI Adoption
SINGAPORE, 12 February 2025 – In the report, IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Sustainability/ESG 2025 Predictions — Asia/Pacific (Excluding Japan) (APEJ) Implications, IDC predicts that by 2027, 50% of IT buyers in Asia/Pacific* will only work with vendors that meet social, environmental, and governance-related responsible AI criteria in accordance with sustainable procurement requirements. This shift in tech-buyer mindset will emerge from organizations moving from the initial “scramble” of GenAI experimentation, currently at a 62% success rate, to a full-scale integration of AI across enterprises.
This “AI pivot” emphasizes the critical shift from prolonged AI experimentation to the strategic integration of AI across all business operations. This transition involves recognizing AI as a core component of the enterprise, establishing robust governance frameworks, and fostering collaboration between business and IT teams to drive sustainable growth.
As AI adoption matures, enterprises will move beyond pilot initiatives to strategically embed AI in their core operations, ensuring measurable impact and compliance with ESG-driven governance. The inclusion of responsible AI criteria will balance sustainability considerations with AI’s functionality, ensuring that Green AI becomes a critical enabler of corporate ESG programs and long-term business value creation.
Due to the growing complexity of carbon accounting and supply chain decarbonization, IDC also predicts that by 2028, 50% of Asia/Pacific organizations will only partner with IT vendors that have robust services or a software partner ecosystem. These two predictions reflect the growing importance of technology, solutions providers, and ecosystems in accomplishing the ESG agenda. It also shows how AI will expand the role of IT in enabling successful, sustainable business transformation.
“The AI pivot will see the rise of Green AI use cases. Organizations will move beyond leveraging GenAI to generate emissions reports for compliance to more operationally focused sustainable transformation strategies such as the transition to low carbon footprint IT, more advanced climate risk analytics which will climate-proof supply chains, and enhanced capability to design and produce sustainable products and services at a faster rate,” said Melvie Espejo, research director, Sustainable Strategies and Technologies, IDC Asia/Pacific.
IDC highlights critical predictions to help businesses in the Asia/Pacific region become AI-fueled sustainable businesses, some of which are highlighted below:
Decarbonizing AI Infrastructure: By 2027, 50% of enterprises in APEJ will implement sustainable AI frameworks, leveraging data-driven decisions to scale AI operations across datacenter locations while meeting decarbonization goals.
Energy-Efficient AI Infrastructure: By 2028, 75% of customers in APEJ will expect CO2 emissions data on everything from build, operate, and disposition of their IT assets to assist with their overall corporate sustainable goals.
Decision-Makers and Budget Holders: By 2029, in 50% of APEJ organizations the chief ethics/sustainability officer will have joined the central AI data governance group or the AI center of excellence.
“Organizations have expanded the criteria for selection in sustainability technology and services. The challenges in ESG data and analytics will define customer requirements from now through 2029,” added Espejo.
Each year, IDC releases its top technology predictions at worldwide, regional and country levels through its IDC FutureScape Reports and offers strategic and data-driven insights into what is ahead for the rapidly changing IT industry. These predictions have been used to shape the strategies and business objectives of technology leaders and business executives in the next 1-5 years. All the predictions stated here cover Asia/Pacific implications.
Catch an on-demand replay of IDC’s 2025 Predictions presentations on AI Everywhere Playbook, Building an AI-Fueled Business, Unblocking AI Everywhere Blockers, and Mapping Growth Opportunities in an AI Everywhere Era by register ing here .
Asia/Pacific Excluding Japan FutureScape Reports come with a complimentary report that provides specific recommendations for tech vendor sales and marketing leaders. Leverage IDC insights to better understand clients’ priorities and enhance your storytelling and go-to market plans, access the IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Sustainability/ESG 2025 Predictions — Asia/Pacific (Excluding Japan) Implications: Positioning for Success — Opportunities for Tech Sales and Marketing Leaders market presentation here .
For more information about IDC FutureScape and other resources, please visit our regional FutureScape site. For sales inquiries on the IDC FutureScape framework and reports, please contact your IDC account manager or Tessa Rago at trago@idc.com. For media queries, please contact Michael de la Cruz at mdelacruz@idc.com or Miguel Carreon mcarreon@idc.com.
*Asia/Pacific excluding Japan
-Ends-
About IDC FutureScapes
IDC FutureScape reports are used to shape IT strategy and planning for the enterprise by providing a basic framework for evaluating IT initiatives in terms of their value to business strategy now and in the foreseeable future. IDC’s FutureScapes are comprised of a set of decision imperatives designed to identify a range of pending issues that CIOs and senior technology professionals will confront within a typical five-year business planning cycle.
Click here to learn about IDC’s full suite of research products and how you can leverage them to grow your business.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC’s analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading tech media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com/ap. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDCAP and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.