???Members of the global tech
sector have committed to increase action to help solve the climate crisis
through Green Digital Action at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The commitments from tech
companies and governments – including mitigation and adaptation efforts – came
at the first Green Digital Action series and signal the advance of digital
technology in support of climate action.
Through Green Digital Action,
ITU, the UN tech agency, aims to bring the entire digital technology sector
together to speed up collective efforts on the climate crisis.
“Digital technologies can be a
key ally in tackling climate change," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU
Secretary-General. These Green Digital Action commitments show that the digital
sector can lead the way in using tech for climate action while also reducing its
impact on the environment."
?Among the outcomes of Green
Digital Action at COP28 are corporate agreements on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions following science-based targets aligned with the goal of limiting
climate warming to 1.5oC, and creating transition plans as well as increasing
transparency on emissions data across the tech industry; and cross-country
collaboration to develop e-waste regulation as a key vehicle to foster a
circular tech industry.
Joint statement by the leading
international standards developers - ITU, ISO and IEC - on the importance of
sustainability being built into technical standards development by design, and
standards helping the world reach net-zero emissions and achieve a
resource-efficient circular and low-carbon economy.
Strengthening of industry and
country collaboration on the implementation of environmental sustainability
standards through an action plan.
Pledge from the mobile
telecommunication and satellite industry to support the Early Warnings for All
initiative through cell-broadcast and direct-to-device services to protect
everyone through life-saving disaster alerts by 2027. A public sector pledge to
implement cell-broadcast using a regulatory approach was also made.?
“The digital technology sector is
giving us reason for hope with their clear commitments on climate action,"
said Tomas Lamanauskas, ITU Deputy Secretary-General, who convened Green
Digital Action. “We will work with our tech partners to ensure follow-through
on these commitments with the aim of expanding and strengthening them in the
future."
Green Digital Action took place
from 2 through 9 December at COP28 to announce tech sector commitments and to?
accelerate action. The outcomes are the result of a nearly year-long effort
involving over 40 partners - including industry associations, UN agencies,
governments and businesses - to unite the global digital community, develop
collaborative solutions, and step up climate action across the industry.
The tech industry is estimated to
be responsible for between 1.5 to 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas
emissions. Growing data storage and processing needs, including for AI systems,
are further increasing the sector's carbon footprint and require a significant
amount of energy.
Technology can also bolster
climate action.
In areas such as climate
monitoring and big data research, technology can identify climate trends and
provide guidance on solutions. Technology can support adaptation through early
warning systems, as well as mitigation efforts by boosting energy efficiency,
building green networks and developing circular economies.
Earlier this year, the SDG
Digital Acceleration Agenda - a global analysis released as part of SDG Digital
- reported that more than two-thirds of the UN's targets for sustainable
development can benefit directly from digital technologies.
As Green Digital Action advances,
it will work to secure more commitments and bring together more partners. ITU
and its Green Digital Action partners are calling for a dedicated digital day
at COP29 to position digital technologies and services as a key factor in the
efforts against the climate crisis.
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