When it comes to programming, you may think about use case first and environmental impact second, but you can prioritise both.
Programming is a great skill to have in your back pocket and in 2026 there are a number of factors that can affect which language you choose to learn, whether that be its degree of navigability, how difficult it is to pick up, the resources available to you or its overall usefulness for your career.
But in the modern era, with mounting concerns around ethics, the planet and sustainability goals, it is vital that we be climate-conscious where we can, and a great place to start is with how you code. But what exactly is green code and why should it become the norm for programmers in 2026?
Conscientious code
As it runs, software consumes energy and the more complex or complicated a system, the more processing time and resources it will require. This often leads to increased carbon emissions, as a device essentially ‘works overtime’ to meet high output demands, consuming energy in large quantities. Sometimes, too, organisations’ overly complicated infrastructure will waste more energy than simpler viable systems would.
Defined as an environmentally sustainable computing practice that aims to minimise energy and resource loss in code processing, some organisations are turning to green coding as a means of meeting greenhouse emission reduction goals, as well as contributing to wider CSR and ESG targets. But with that in mind, how can programmers write sustainably?
Core concepts
The main differentiator between what could be considered standard programming and green code is simple, in that it comes down to the amount of energy needed by developers to process the lines of code. Lower energy output can be achieved by applying less energy-intensive principles to your work throughout the day, until it just becomes how you personally do things. It becomes the norm.
Multinational technology company IBM’s research supports the lean coding method, which places core emphasis on using the minimal amount of processing necessary for an end result or final application. It suggests that developers make an effort to reduce file size and eliminate unnecessarily long or slow code that tends to burn through resources.
For example, large amounts of open-source code is typically designed for a range of applications and can contain code that is surplus to a user’s specific requirements. In such cases, a developer may have pulled many files that won’t be part of their final output, but this redundant code still uses additional processing power, leading to excess carbon emissions.
By becoming more aware of the impact you have and applying conscientious policies to your work, the need to act sustainably can become ingrained in everyday operations. It just takes a little focus and commitment at the beginning to develop what will hopefully become a natural and standard practice.
Programmes aplenty
So, where do you start? What can you learn now to help you develop those (hopefully) life-long sustainable behaviours?
Well, to start, take a look at Rust. This newer language is typically used for low-level systems programming by developers conscious of memory safety and performance. It can be tricky to learn, say some; however, where there is a will there is a way, and the cherry on top is that Rust is considered to be among the most energy efficient programs, due to a combination of close-to-metal performance and a minimal runtime.
Designed with security in mind, Ada is also considered a green coding platform, and this unique language has the added benefit of being named after an inspirational woman in the STEM space: Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and a woman often referred to as the world’s first computer programmer. Similar to Rust, this classical, stack-based, general-purpose language is often found to require less energy and time in the execution of solutions.
C, which is part of the C programming family, is another ideal language to learn for those aiming to be more responsible in their job and indeed in their personal use of coding technologies. Considered to be efficient and hardy, it is a relatively popular and often powerful language for professionals and programming enthusiasts.
As a hardware-independent language, it can be moved with ease. This, coupled with simple data structures and the use of compiled language, results in far more efficiency and a less wasteful process overall.
Other languages to consider include Pascal, which offers clarity in writing, speed and efficient use of computer resources; the ever-evolving and popular Java, which is moving along nicely with the times; and Lisp, a language that enables the use of highly adaptable and extensible programs, facilitating maintenance and evolution of software over time.
Evolution is the real catalyst here. Arguably, you could say that any language can be made green if those creating the technologies and implementing them want it to be so. It’s really about modernising our systems so that they reflect the world we want to live in and the tech we will need to make it a sustainable reality.
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