On the occasion of the first-ever “Digitalization Day” for a United Nations climate conference, the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action has received the support of more than 1,000 governments, businesses, civil society organizations, international and regional organizations and other stakeholders.
Advantages and disadvantages
According to the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who organized today’s digital events at COP29, digital technologies can be key tools to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable development agenda for 2030as they play a key role in climate monitoring, early warning systems and global climate adaptation and mitigation.
Indeed, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data can play a central role in optimizing the energy consumption of our digital world. For example, by leveraging AI algorithms, data centers can optimize energy efficiency, streamline operations and reduce their carbon footprint, according to the ITU.
However, as the use of digital products and services increases, the amount of energy and water used as well as the e-waste produced also increases.
Increasing levels of digitalization require more energy, which increases greenhouse gas emissions. AI programs need servers that run 24 hours a day. These servers and the data centers that house them consume a lot of electricity. Additionally, even more energy is required to cool data centers.
These and other questions were discussed at a COP29 high-level roundtable on digitalization for climate action.
Unleashing digital technology for climate action
The COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action recognizes the importance of digital technologies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The declaration’s objectives highlight how digital innovations can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide vital tools to inform and warn communities.
“This significant moment for Green digital action COP29 should propel us forward with the shared conviction that we can and must reduce the environmental footprint of digital technologies while harnessing their undeniable potential to combat the climate crisis,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU.
“Let us continue our green digital momentum through to COP30, and with it, a more sustainable digital future for generations to come,” she said.
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