Sustainable development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Australian Senate opens inquiry into AI data centres

The Australian Greens announced that the Senate has established a parliamentary inquiry into AI data centres, according to its official statement. The move follows growing concern over the rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI infrastructure and limited federal oversight.

The inquiry will examine environmental, economic and social impacts, including energy and water use, effects on communities, and the regulatory framework governing AI. It aims to better understand how these facilities influence resources and infrastructure.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said communities have raised concerns about pressure on energy supply, water availability and environmental protection. She also called for greater transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of agreements involving global technology companies.

The party warned against repeating past regulatory failures and stressed the need for accountability as AI infrastructure expands. The inquiry is expected to gather input from affected communities and stakeholders across Australia.

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China AI ethics draft translated by Georgetown’s CSET

The Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), a policy research organisation within Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, has published an English translation of China’s draft trial measures on ethics reviews for AI technology.

The translated draft says the measures would apply to AI-related scientific and technological activities conducted within China that may pose ethical risks to human health, human dignity, the ecological environment, public order, or sustainable development. It covers universities, research institutions, medical and health institutions, enterprises, and other organisations involved in AI research and development.

Under the draft, organisations with the necessary conditions would be expected to establish AI technology ethics committees, while others could commission specialised ethics service centres to conduct reviews. Review applications would need to include details on the AI activity, algorithms, data sources, data cleaning methods, testing and evaluation, expected applications, user groups, risk assessments, and risk prevention plans.

The review process would focus on fairness and impartiality; controllability and trustworthiness; transparency and explainability; accountability and traceability; and whether the activity has scientific and social value. Committees or service centres would generally have 30 days to approve, reject, or request revisions to an application.

Higher-risk activities would require expert reconsideration. The draft list includes human-computer fusion systems that strongly affect behaviour, psychological or emotional states, or health; AI models and systems able to mobilise public opinion or channel social consciousness; and highly autonomous automated decision-making systems used in safety or personal health-risk scenarios.

Approved AI activities would also be subject to follow-up reviews, generally at intervals of no more than 12 months, while activities requiring expert reconsideration would be subject to follow-up reviews at least every 6 months. Emergency ethics reviews would normally have to be completed within 72 hours.

CSET notes that China released a final trial version of the regulation in April 2026, which it is now translating. The newly published draft translation therefore provides insight into the regulatory structure that preceded the final version, including committee-based ethics review, external service centres, expert reconsideration, and oversight roles for the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other departments.

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China outlines AI and energy integration plan

The Chinese National Energy Administration, alongside the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Data Administration, has released an action plan to promote mutual development between AI and the energy sector.

The plan focuses on ensuring a reliable energy supply for computing infrastructure while using AI to support energy transformation. It outlines 29 key tasks covering green energy use, efficient coordination between power and computing, and expanding high-value AI applications in energy.

Authorities aim to significantly improve the clean energy supply for AI computing and strengthen AI adoption in energy by 2030. The strategy also seeks to enhance data use and drive innovation in AI models within the energy sector.

The agencies will establish coordination mechanisms across government and industry to support implementation and innovation. The initiative reflects a broader push to integrate AI and energy systems more deeply in China.

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Australia expands collaboration efforts in key science and technology areas

The Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources has announced $6.2 million in funding for nine international projects under round two of the Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund (GSTDF).

The programme supports collaboration, innovation and commercialisation in priority technology areas. The selected projects focus on AI, advanced manufacturing, quantum technologies and hydrogen, with several initiatives applying AI to areas such as robotics, satellite networks and ocean forecasting.

According to the department, Australian researchers will work with international partners across Asia-Pacific, with projects spanning fields from healthcare to environmental monitoring and space technologies.

The funding reflects a broader effort to deepen international cooperation and advance strategic technologies, with collaborations involving countries including Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and South Korea, supporting innovation linked to Australia.

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Saudi initiative attempts to link AI with sustainability goals

A new AI-enabled sustainability platform developed with support from the World Economic Forum aims to strengthen partnerships across sectors. The initiative is led by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning as part of its wider development agenda.

The platform, known as SUSTAIN, uses AI to match organisations with potential partners and opportunities. It is designed to connect government, businesses, academia, and civil society more efficiently and to help move sustainability projects from planning to implementation.

Developers say the system could accelerate collaboration and support the delivery of higher-impact sustainability projects. Official estimates suggest it could help unlock partnerships worth up to $20 billion in Saudi Arabia and significantly more across the wider region.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to advance long-term sustainability goals through more coordinated action and practical uses of AI. The project is being developed in Saudi Arabia and presented as a tool to strengthen cross-sector cooperation rather than a stand-alone sustainability programme.

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EU Global Green Bond Initiative Fund unlocks €20 billion for sustainable infrastructure

The European Union and its financial partners have launched the Global Green Bond Initiative Fund to mobilise up to €20 billion for sustainable infrastructure in developing economies.

The initiative reflects a broader shift towards using private capital alongside public investment to accelerate climate and environmental goals.

Moreover, the fund will prioritise green bonds issued by governments, local authorities, and businesses, with a focus on first-time issuers and least developed countries. By supporting both euro and local-currency bonds, the initiative also aims to strengthen domestic capital markets while expanding the international role of the euro.

Backed by major European financial institutions and supported through the EU guarantees, the GGBI Fund is designed to reduce investment risk and attract private investors at scale.

Alongside financing, the initiative includes technical assistance and subsidy mechanisms intended to improve access to green finance and lower borrowing costs.

The programme forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, linking economic development with sustainability goals while promoting high environmental standards and long-term resilience across partner regions.

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Austria hosts the first Google data centre in the Alpine region

Google has announced its first data centre investment in Austria, marking an expansion of digital infrastructure in the Alpine region.

The facility, to be built in Kronstorf, is expected to create around 100 direct jobs while supporting growing demand for cloud services and AI capabilities across Europe.

The investment reflects a broader push to strengthen Europe’s digital competitiveness through infrastructure linked to AI-driven growth. By expanding its network capacity, Google says it aims to enhance the performance, reliability, and scalability of its services, helping regional economies remain connected to global digital ecosystems.

Sustainability is a central part of the project. The data centre will incorporate measures such as renewable energy integration, heat recovery systems, and water quality initiatives linked to the nearby Enns River.

These efforts align with wider industry trends towards greener data infrastructure and lower environmental impact.

Alongside infrastructure development, Google is also investing in workforce skills through partnerships with local institutions, including the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.

Building on previous training initiatives that have reached more than 140,000 people, the programme aims to equip workers with skills relevant to an AI-driven economy, reinforcing the link between digital infrastructure and human capital development.

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Georgia hosts EPO talks on patents and technology transfer

European Patent Office President António Campinos visited Tbilisi for high-level meetings and a joint conference with Georgia’s National Intellectual Property Center, Sakpatenti, focused on the role of patents in technology transfer.

During the visit, Campinos met Georgia’s Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Givi Mikanadze. Discussions covered the contribution of patent systems to economic development, innovation policy, international technology cooperation, and Georgia’s alignment with European patent practices.

The meetings also highlighted cooperation between the European Patent Office and Sakpatenti, including Georgia’s validation agreement with the EPO, which the statement says has resulted in more than 300 validation requests in two years. Mikanadze said:

‘The validation agreement supports IP development in Georgia by establishing an environment where knowledge transforms into innovation.‘

At the conference, titled ‘From Research to Impact: The Role of Patents in Technology Transfer’, Campinos said:

‘Technology transfer, foreign investment, and the development of new technologies depend on strong research, skilled intellectual property professionals, and solid legal frameworks. Patents and our validation agreement, by providing legal certainty, predictability, and clear professional standards, support researchers, universities, businesses of all sizes, and individual inventors in moving ideas from the laboratory to the market.‘

The programme also addressed professional qualifications and patent skills, with the EPO highlighting certification frameworks such as the European Qualifying Examination and the European Patent Administration Certification.

Why does it matter?

Stronger patent cooperation can affect how easily research moves into commercial use, how attractive a market is for technology investment, and how predictable protection is for innovators operating across borders. In Georgia, the validation agreement is presented as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem and its links with European patent practice.

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WHO launches AI Community of Practice for emergency response surveillance

The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has launched a Community of Practice on AI for disaster and emergency response surveillance through the WHO Collaboratory platform.

According to the organisation, the initiative brings together national authorities, practitioners, researchers, partners, and WHO staff to share knowledge, build capacity, and develop practical guidance on the use of AI in surveillance, early warning, risk assessment, and operational response.

WHO says the Community of Practice is part of its AI Literacy Programme and is intended to strengthen national and regional capacity to evaluate, adopt, govern, and scale AI tools during disasters and health emergencies. Members will have access to training modules, peer-to-peer learning, technical working groups, and a repository of best practices and tested guidance.

The organisation states that the platform prioritises the ethical, equitable, and transparent use of AI in line with its standards. Dr Annette Heinzelmann, WHO Regional Emergency Director, a.i., said:

‘At WHO, we advocate for the science-driven use of artificial intelligence in public health response, especially during emergencies.‘

Heizelmann added:

‘Our priority is to ensure these technologies are applied in ways that are safe, ethical and grounded in public health needs. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting Member States in translating innovation into faster, more effective emergency response.‘

WHO says it launched the All-Hazards Information Management Toolkit last year as an AI-powered tool to support emergency information management, including rapid risk assessments, response plans, monitoring tools, and situation reports. According to WHO, participants from 20 countries were trained in the use of the toolkit and in AI literacy for emergency preparedness and surveillance.

Dr Oliver Morgan, Head of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, said: ‘Artificial intelligence has enormous potential in public health, but its impact depends on how responsibly and effectively it is applied.’

Morgan expanded: ‘At the WHO Hub in Berlin, we develop innovative tools and bring experts together through initiatives like the Collaboratory to support countries and regions to detect health threats faster and respond more effectively. This Community of Practice helps ensure AI solutions move beyond pilots and into real-world emergency response, where speed, trust and usability matter most.’

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AI needs digital public infrastructure to work for citizens, World Economic Forum says

The World Economic Forum says AI will only improve public services at scale if governments build on strong digital public infrastructure rather than fragmented systems and isolated pilot projects.

In a new analysis, the WEF points to digital identity, payments, and data exchange as the core layers that already support service delivery in many countries.

It argues that AI can make those systems more responsive by speeding up tasks such as identity verification, record retrieval, and payment processing.

But the Forum also warns that combining AI with digital public infrastructure will not work without clear safeguards. Interoperability, trust, and consent-based data use are presented as essential to making AI systems effective across public institutions while protecting users.

The wider message is that AI in government is no longer just a question of adoption. For countries hoping to scale public-sector AI, the bigger challenge is whether the underlying digital infrastructure is strong enough to support it.

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