Nearly 70 per cent of UK businesses have no targets to reduce their carbon footprint, research by the Green Technology Initiative claims today. 

The Green IT Awareness Survey (PDF) polled more than 100 UK IT managers, consultants, network and general managers during April and May. 

The results suggested that over 90 per cent believe that tackling the carbon footprint of IT systems is of prime importance.

"IT can have huge benefits for sustainability. But if played wrong IT can accelerate its impact disastrously. All business can think about making IT work for them and the planet," said Dan Sutherland, founder of the Green Technology Initiative.

"What we are doing in IT today is not sustainable. Systems efficiency is the cheapest and easiest way of reducing the carbon footprint of the work you do and, delivered properly, it has the benefit of bringing down costs across the board.

"While undoubtedly UK enterprises are willing to take action, many lack the incentive, knowledge and resources to make immediate changes."

The overwhelming majority of respondents are looking to vendors, hardware manufacturers and government to get them and the country on target to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 per cent before 2010, a target they are not on track to meet.

"Businesses are very aware of green issues but are failing to translate that into effective action," added Sutherland.

"2010 is not far away and IT accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse emissions, so now is the time to take greater responsibility and tackle IT energy consumption."

The report concludes that businesses are not getting the support they require, and that the targets will be met only through effective collaboration between industry and government.