Josh Parker

Josh Parker is the head of sustainability at NVIDIA, where he leads the company's corporate sustainability strategy. Parker oversees efforts to manage NVIDIA's environmental footprint as the company expands in response to global demand for artificial intelligence. Upon joining NVIDIA, Parker was one of two team members responsible for sustainability strategy and public policy initiatives. Since then, the team has grown significantly, taking on the challenge of communicating the potential benefits of AI, such as automated energy management and image-recognition recycling, to a public that remains cautious about the technology.

Parker's background combines technical and legal expertise. He studied electrical engineering and practiced intellectual property law at a large law firm before joining Western Digital, where he led the company's ethics and compliance program in Asia and established a new corporate sustainability program. Parker transitioned to NVIDIA after engaging with the company during his tenure at Western Digital. As both an engineer and a lawyer, Parker emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in sustainability programs.

At NVIDIA, Parker implements a data-driven approach to sustainability, prioritizing accurate and credible data for effective impact management. He advocates for the role of technology, particularly AI, in addressing global sustainability challenges. As data centers face scrutiny for water and energy usage, Parker highlights NVIDIA's efforts to improve energy efficiency, including the introduction of the Rubin generation of AI architecture, which features 100 percent liquid cooling to reduce cooling energy consumption. NVIDIA has also transitioned to 100 percent renewable energy, a milestone Parker identifies as significant in the company's decarbonization initiatives.

Parker is recognized as a speaker at international forums, including Economist Impact Sustainability Week Summit in London, CERAWeek, and Climate Week NYC. At the Economist Impact summit, Parker participated in a panel titled "Decarbonising Data – AI's Energy Footprint," discussing the balance between the benefits and energy demands of artificial intelligence. He has been featured on NVIDIA's AI Podcast and the Impact Podcast, and was named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI list. Across these platforms, Parker consistently advocates for the potential of AI to advance sustainability and achieve more sustainable outcomes.