Climate change and Technology implementation | IGF 2023 WS #570

Audience

The analysis explores various topics related to climate change and technology in the global south. One key point highlighted is the importance of accountability and responsibility in addressing climate change. It emphasises that governments, corporations, and individuals all need to take responsibility for their actions and work towards mitigating climate change. The analysis also mentions concerns over digital colonisation and the quest for digital sovereignty, particularly in global south countries. It points out the potential exploitation of resources by technology companies from developed nations.

Another topic discussed is the challenge of tackling electronic waste sustainably. While recycling initiatives exist in countries like Brazil, the analysis highlights difficulties in handling electrical and electronic devices due to harmful substances like lithium. It emphasises the need for sustainable solutions to effectively manage electronic waste.

The analysis also examines the search for successful examples of technology mitigating climate change impacts, especially in the Amazon region of the global south. It advocates for leveraging technology to address climate change, reduce emissions, and protect sensitive ecosystems. However, it does not provide specific examples or evidence of successful implementations.

Furthermore, the analysis draws attention to the importance of localising global climate change solutions. It highlights the relatively poor performance of Hong Kong, despite its significant economic power and infrastructure. This suggests the need for tailored solutions that consider local contexts and challenges, rather than relying solely on global strategies.

The role of lobbying and negotiating with decision-makers is also emphasised as a means to advance climate change agendas. The analysis stresses the importance of engaging with policymakers to influence climate-related policies and decisions. However, it does not provide specific evidence or examples of successful lobbying efforts.

The potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) in creating energy-efficient systems and reducing carbon emissions is another topic discussed. The analysis highlights the positive impact that IoT can have on sustainability efforts but does not provide supporting evidence or specific examples.

Lastly, the analysis addresses the need for accountability in adopting costly technologies and the role of lifecycle assessment in defining avoided emissions. It mentions ongoing discussions in Europe regarding the European Green Digital Coalition. This highlights the importance of considering the environmental impact of adopting new technologies and ensuring that the benefits outweigh the costs.

In conclusion, the analysis raises various important aspects related to climate change and technology in the global south. It underscores the need for accountability and responsibility, addresses concerns over digital colonisation and digital sovereignty, discusses challenges in tackling electronic waste sustainably, explores the search for successful technology implementations, advocates for localising climate change solutions, emphasises the importance of lobbying and negotiation, highlights the potential of IoT, and stresses the need for accountability in adopting costly technologies. However, it lacks in-depth evidence and specific examples to support these points. Nonetheless, it raises key issues that require attention and further exploration.

Moderator

Climate change is a pressing global issue that demands immediate action. It is acknowledged as one of the most pressing issues in the world. The seriousness of this concern is emphasized by the devastating impacts of climate change witnessed worldwide, including extreme weather events that serve as evidence that the Earth is changing. Igor, one of the participants, highlights the urgency of taking immediate climate action.

Technology has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing climate change. It is seen as a catalyst for change and offers potential solutions. Various technologies, including renewable energies such as wind, solar, and hydropower, are being utilized to combat climate change. These technologies provide valuable alternatives to traditional energy sources that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the session explores how technology can be leveraged to transform social, educational, and environmental aspects, offering concrete solutions to combat climate change.

However, it is crucial to ensure that technology is used responsibly and does not harm the environment. The responsible usage of technology is a fundamental consideration, as it can have adverse effects on the environment. The session emphasizes the need to find ways to ensure that technology does not adversely affect the environment itself, highlighting that great power comes with great responsibility.

Young people are recognized as key actors in addressing climate change. The session highlights the crucial role that young people play in combating climate change. Their active involvement and engagement are crucial for driving change and implementing sustainable solutions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also identified as a tool that can assist in mitigating and adapting to climate change. AI can optimize electricity supply and demand, leading to energy consumption savings. AI can also aid in developing early warning systems for severe disasters and accurate climate forecasts, contributing to climate change adaptation efforts.

Despite the positive contributions of technology, there are negative impacts that need to be addressed. The production and usage of technology contribute to surges in energy demand and the environmental impacts associated with the hardware life cycle. These concerns highlight the importance of considering the environmental implications of technology.

Collaboration between various sectors is deemed necessary to maximize the potential of technology in combating climate change. Governments, businesses, research institutions, and individuals are encouraged to collaborate and create incentives for sustainable practices and eco-friendly technologies. By working together, a more comprehensive and impactful approach to addressing climate change can be achieved.

The European Union’s twin transition approach, which combines green and digital strategies, is seen as a significant step towards battling climate change. The EU has committed to cutting its climate emissions by half by 2030 and aims to be climate neutral by 2050. This approach demonstrates the potential for combining digital advancements with environmental sustainability.

Transparency is highlighted as a crucial aspect in addressing the environmental impact of digitization. It is suggested that the lifecycle of applications, including design and conceptualization, should be accounted for, with measurement of material consumption carried out independently. Accessible and transparent results would allow for a better understanding of the environmental impact of digitization.

Circular economy principles are advocated as a means of reducing political dependence and promoting sustainability. The adoption of circular economy practices, such as recycling and resource conservation, can contribute to economic stability and security while reducing the negative impacts on the environment.

Equitable access to digital tools is emphasized as a necessary step towards addressing climate change. It is crucial to ensure that all population groups, including older people and structurally discriminated groups, have equal access to digital resources. Additionally, increasing digital sovereignty, which involves individuals having control over their own data, is seen as a crucial aspect of empowering individuals in the digital age.

Implementing technology solutions to combat climate change can be challenging, particularly in regions with a lack of infrastructure, high costs, and a lack of knowledge. These challenges highlight the need for targeted support and investment in these areas to overcome barriers and enable technology adoption for climate action.

Accountability and compliance regarding environmental laws and technology are critical to ensuring that technology initiatives are aligned with sustainability goals. The session raises concerns about the difficulty in ensuring compliance with environmental laws and court sentences. It suggests that supervision bodies and legal systems need to be strengthened to address these issues effectively.

Efforts from all sectors – including the private sector, academia, the tech community, the United Nations, and governments – are called for to find cheaper technology solutions to fight climate change and overcome existing challenges.

The preservation of biodiversity is mentioned as an important consideration in the context of climate change. The threat posed to the Brazilian biome due to temperature increases is highlighted, calling for urgent action to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity.

The power and influence of big tech companies are also scrutinized, particularly regarding the exploitation of data and resources of local citizens. International organizations are urged to work towards curbing the excessive power of big tech companies and preserving the interests of local communities.

Transparency and consumer awareness are seen as essential elements in promoting responsible behaviors in the digital age. It is suggested that if consumers were made aware of the impacts of data centers or unethical data practices, they might change their behaviors and support more sustainable practices.

Standards are recognized as crucial in promoting sustainable digitalization. The European strategy for green digitalization includes the implementation of standards to ensure that digitization aligns with sustainability goals. However, it is acknowledged that standardization bodies should strive for inclusivity and representation, ensuring that all stakeholders can contribute to the development of these standards.

Credibility issues associated with climate change reports are mentioned, indicating the need for effective checks and measures. It is essential that reports on climate change are credible and reliable to guide decision-making and demonstrate progress towards climate goals.

Lastly, the importance of legal and political collaboration is highlighted. It is noted that successful examples exist when politicians and legal teams worked together in areas such as patents and biodiversity aspects. It is emphasized that international agreements and disputes cannot be resolved solely through legal means, requiring the active involvement of politicians.

In conclusion, addressing climate change through technology requires immediate action and collaboration across various sectors. While technology offers potential solutions, responsible usage, transparency, and equitable access must be prioritized. The session highlights the role of young people, artificial intelligence, and circular economy principles in combating climate change. Challenges related to implementing technology solutions, accountability, and the preservation of biodiversity are also recognized. The excessive power of big tech companies, the importance of transparency and standards, and the need for legal and political collaboration are additional considerations in the fight against climate change.

João Vitor Andrade

The provided data highlights the potential of the internet and technology in addressing the global challenge of climate change. The arguments put forward are that these tools can play a crucial role in combating climate change by enabling innovative solutions, facilitating information sharing, and promoting sustainable practices.

One argument suggests that the internet and technology can enable innovative solutions by using artificial intelligence and improved sensors to collect real-time environmental data, such as deforestation, temperature, and air quality. This data can help identify strategies to mitigate climate change.

The importance of information sharing facilitated by the internet and technology is also emphasized. Rapid dissemination of knowledge and best practices can enable individuals, organizations, and governments to make informed decisions and take appropriate action in the fight against climate change.

Technology is also seen as a means to promote sustainable practices. Smart grid technologies, for example, can optimize energy distribution and consumption, reducing waste and making energy systems more efficient and environmentally friendly.

The internet and technology are recognized for their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through virtual meetings and remote work, reducing the need for commuting and business travel. This can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions.

Precision agriculture technologies are also highlighted as important tools in the fight against climate change. These technologies can optimize crop production while reducing the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Stakeholder collaboration is emphasized as crucial in leveraging the potential of the internet and technology in addressing climate change. Collaboration between governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals can maximize the impact of internet and technology-based solutions.

In addition, the analysis includes a neutral stance on climate change, suggesting that it is a problem for humans rather than the world. This highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of the interconnectedness of climate change and its global impact.

There is also a call to rethink the system for distributing energy, focusing on efficiency rather than just production. The use of artificial intelligence to distribute energy efficiently to areas with higher or lower consumption is proposed as a solution for reducing wastage and promoting affordable and clean energy.

Lastly, there is a negative view expressed against the extensive use of fossil fuels in energy production. The contribution of countries like China, with significant coal-based energy production, to higher carbon emissions is highlighted. This underscores the importance of transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

Overall, the data highlights the potential and importance of internet and technology in addressing climate change. Collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices are emphasized as key to effectively mitigating climate change and creating a more sustainable future.

Igor José Da Silva Araújo

Climate change is a pressing issue of global concern that requires urgent attention. It poses a significant threat to our planet, as evidenced by extreme weather events, changes in rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures. Human behaviour plays a pivotal role in the origin of climate change, with activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Acknowledging the impact of human behaviour is crucial in developing effective strategies to combat climate change.

Technology plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower, offer sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting long-term sustainability. Adaptive practices, such as cultivating drought-resistant crops and implementing early warning systems, help communities respond proactively to the adverse effects of climate change.

Taking responsibility and acting now are essential to finding effective solutions to climate change. By doing so, we can mitigate its threats and safeguard the well-being of our planet and future generations. It is imperative that we adopt sustainable practices and utilise technology as allies in combating climate change. By addressing our actions and pursuing resilient solutions, we can make a positive impact and ensure a sustainable future for all.

Rosanna Fanni

The analysis highlights several key points regarding sustainable digitalisation. The first major point emphasises the need for better transparency and assessment of the environmental impact of digitisation. The report suggests that there is a lack of systematic data on the environmental impact, particularly throughout the lifecycle of digitisation. To address this, independent measurements and the accessibility of results are required. This would enable a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental footprint of digital technologies and help to identify areas for improvement.

Another important aspect identified in the analysis is the promotion of more entrepreneurial thinking and a compliance culture in relation to environmental sustainability. The argument is that creating environments where sustainability is viewed as an opportunity rather than a hurdle can drive innovation and economic growth. Furthermore, educational programs and awareness initiatives are seen as essential for fostering a culture of sustainability and ensuring that individuals are well-informed about the importance of sustainable practices.

The analysis also emphasises the need for a legal commitment to sustainability by design and default. This implies that ecological sustainability should be integrated into the design process of digital technologies, and the impact of these technologies should be visible to users. By making sustainability a legal requirement, companies will be compelled to consider the environmental consequences of their products and services, leading to more sustainable outcomes.

The circular economy approach is advocated for dealing with critical raw materials. Efforts should be made to reduce political dependence on countries with large raw material deposits. Moreover, the expansion of recycling practices can contribute to reducing the demand for new raw materials. This circular economy approach is seen as central to ensuring the long-term availability of critical raw materials and reducing their environmental impact.

Transparency and accountability in digital education, particularly with regards to artificial intelligence, is another important point raised in the analysis. Manufacturers are encouraged to provide clear explanations about how these technologies work and the implications they have. Additionally, special consideration should be given to children to ensure that they are prepared for the digital world and that their rights are protected.

The analysis also highlights the importance of equitable digital access for all, including older adults, children, and other structurally discriminated groups. Efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to access digital technologies are crucial for promoting inclusivity and reducing inequalities.

Furthermore, the analysis suggests the need for increased digital sovereignty and the curbing of the power of big tech companies. It is argued that individuals should have control over their own data and decisions about its use. Additionally, educational initiatives are required to enhance media literacy and awareness, ensuring that individuals are empowered to navigate the digital landscape.

The analysis also highlights the significance of transparency in understanding the impact of big tech companies. More global reporting about tech companies is deemed necessary to inform consumers about their practices and allow them to make informed choices.

In terms of standards, the analysis stresses their importance in the strategy of European sustainable digitalisation. However, there are questions regarding how these standards are produced and whether inclusiveness is being prioritised. It is essential to ensure that standards are developed through a collaborative and inclusive process to guarantee their effectiveness and relevance.

Lastly, the analysis underscores the need for political prioritisation of green and sustainable digitalisation. Without political commitment and support, progress in these areas is unlikely to be achieved. Policy decisions and initiatives should prioritise environmental sustainability alongside digital transformation to ensure a sustainable and inclusive future.

In conclusion, the analysis highlights multiple crucial aspects of sustainable digitalisation. These include better transparency and assessment of the environmental impact, promoting entrepreneurial thinking and compliance culture, legal commitment to sustainability, circular economy practices, transparency and accountability in digital education, equitable digital access, increased digital sovereignty, curbing the power of big tech companies, transparency for consumers, the importance of standards, and political prioritisation of green and sustainable digitalisation. Emphasising and implementing these aspects will contribute to achieving a sustainable and inclusive digital future.

Denise Leal

The analysis covers a range of topics related to climate change, technology solutions, environmental law, biodiversity, ESG reports, and engagement between legal and political entities. One key issue highlighted is the lack of necessary infrastructure and knowledge in certain countries to successfully implement technology solutions. In Latin America and the Caribbean, for example, there is a significant deficit in infrastructure needed to support the implementation of these technologies. Moreover, technology solutions are often expensive, making them inaccessible to many people, and there is also a lack of knowledge and skills needed to effectively work with these technologies. This poses a significant challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to industry, innovation, infrastructure, and climate action.

Another argument put forth is the need for cheaper technology solutions to combat climate change. The analysis suggests that there are countries that cannot afford expensive technology solutions, and therefore, more effort should be focused on developing and making available affordable alternatives. This would enable broader adoption of these solutions, fostering real progress in addressing climate change and achieving the SDGs.

The analysis also sheds light on the difficulties in ensuring compliance with environmental protection rulings. One of the main challenges identified is the lack of adequate supervisory bodies to effectively monitor and enforce compliance with these laws. Supervisory bodies are often small and insufficiently resourced, hampering their ability to carry out proper supervision. This raises concerns about the overall accountability and compliance of environmental laws, which is crucial in safeguarding the environment and achieving peace, justice, and strong institutions.

The negative impacts of climate change on biodiversity and species extinction are also emphasized in the analysis. It is highlighted that a significant portion of the Cerrado, a Brazilian biome, is projected to be lost due to climate change, resulting in the potential extinction of various species. Additionally, the analysis suggests that climate change has already caused some species to become extinct worldwide. These findings underscore the urgent need for action to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect biodiversity in order to achieve the SDGs related to life on land.

Regarding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports, the analysis raises concerns about their authenticity due to potential inaccuracies and lack of a foolproof verification system. While standards and checks are in place for these reports, there is a notable absence of an efficient method to confirm their truthfulness. This challenges the reliability of ESG reports and calls for improved verification systems to ensure transparency and accountability in responsible consumption and production, as well as climate action.

The analysis also highlights the importance of collaboration between legal and political entities for effective resolutions. Successful examples of politicians and lawyers working together on patents and biodiversity issues are cited, underscoring the need for political and legal teams to align their efforts. This collaborative approach is crucial in achieving the SDGs related to peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Lastly, the analysis acknowledges the value of traditional communities’ successful environmental protection methods. The recognition of their effective methods highlights the importance of incorporating indigenous and traditional knowledge systems in environmental conservation efforts. This insight can contribute to achieving the SDGs related to life on land and underscores the need for respecting and valuing diverse approaches to environmental protection.

In conclusion, the analysis highlights several key challenges and recommendations related to climate change, technology solutions, environmental law, biodiversity, ESG reports, and engagement between legal and political entities. It underscores the importance of addressing these issues to achieve the SDGs and calls for collaboration, accountability, and the incorporation of diverse perspectives in environmental and sustainable development efforts.

Speaker

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to play a significant role in understanding climate change and mitigating its effects. It can optimize electricity supply and demand, reducing energy waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, AI can enhance energy management systems, leading to more efficient resource utilization and a shift towards renewable energy sources. It also enables the development of early warning systems for severe weather events, improving preparedness and response efforts.

AI’s ability to provide accurate climate forecasts and predictions is another key advantage. By analyzing large amounts of data, AI algorithms can identify patterns and trends, allowing for more reliable projections of climate changes. Additionally, AI can predict crop yields and determine suitable locations for planting, contributing to stable food supply despite changing climatic conditions.

However, it is important to recognize the negative environmental impacts of technology proliferation. Rapid advancements in electronic devices and their shorter lifespan contribute to the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste). Manufacturing electronic components is energy-intensive and water-dependent, and improper disposal of e-waste can have harmful consequences for both the environment and human health.

Therefore, it is crucial to use technology responsibly and consider both its positive and negative impacts. Responsible consumption and production of technology should be prioritised, considering environmental implications throughout the product lifecycle. This includes implementing policies and regulations to reduce e-waste generation, promoting recycling and proper disposal methods, and encouraging the development of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies.

Furthermore, leveraging AI to rethink energy usage and improve energy distribution is essential for achieving a sustainable future. By utilizing AI algorithms and advanced analytics, countries can optimize energy distribution networks, making them more efficient and reliable. This can lead to a significant reduction in energy waste and contribute to the goal of affordable and clean energy for all.

To address the global e-waste issue, urgent actions and strong policies are necessary. This involves engaging communities and giving them a voice in policy implementation and necessary actions. Collaborative efforts between governments, industry stakeholders, and individuals are crucial to effectively tackle e-waste and promote responsible consumption and production practices.

In summary, while AI offers promising solutions for understanding and mitigating climate change, it is essential to approach technology with a balanced perspective. Utilizing AI in energy management, climate forecasting, and agriculture can yield significant environmental benefits. However, negative impacts associated with technology proliferation, such as increased energy demand and e-waste, must be addressed through responsible consumption and production practices. With urgent actions, strong policies, and community engagement, AI and technology can be harnessed to create a more sustainable future.

James Amattey

Technology undoubtedly offers numerous benefits to society, but it also has a negative impact on climate change. The staggering number of devices globally, over 6.2 billion, each equipped with two or more chips that require frequent charging, contributes to significant energy consumption. These devices, such as smartphones and laptops, perform high computational tasks that demand substantial amounts of power, resulting in increased energy consumption and carbon emissions. Despite the transition to USB-C, a more energy-efficient charging technology, concerns over energy consumption persist.

Furthermore, the worldwide Cloud infrastructure for apps adds to the energy demands. Cloud servers, responsible for hosting and processing data for various applications, consume a significant amount of electricity. This consumption originates from the need to power and cool extensive server networks required to handle the vast amount of user-generated data. As our reliance on cloud-based services continues to grow, so does the strain on energy resources and the subsequent environmental impact.

Moreover, electric and autonomous mobility, hailed as a solution to curb fuel emissions, present a new set of energy challenges. Surprisingly, the computational power required to move an electric or autonomous vehicle exceeds that of conventional vehicles running on fuel. This increased computational power demands a substantial amount of electricity to power the intricate systems that enable electric and autonomous mobility.

To address the rising energy demands of electric vehicles (EVs), national-level policy adjustments are necessary. Expanding the charging infrastructure and implementing mechanisms to seamlessly integrate EVs into transportation systems are vital. Governments can play a vital role by providing incentives and support to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, laying the foundation for a sustainable future.

In conclusion, while technology brings numerous benefits to society, it also poses challenges concerning climate change. The widespread use of devices and the energy demands of cloud infrastructure significantly contribute to energy consumption and carbon emissions. Furthermore, electric and autonomous mobility introduce new energy challenges that require careful consideration. Policymakers and industry leaders must collaborate to balance technological advancements with environmental sustainability, finding innovative solutions to mitigate the negative impact of technology on climate change.

Moderator:
forward. Good morning, everyone. My name is Millenia Mantany, and I would like to welcome you all in this session of climate and technology. In this session today, I’m also joined by my co-moderator, who is online. His name is Igor, and in this session, we’ll also have a diverse of perspective from researchers, advocates, industry leaders, to share insights and explore how technology can be a catalyst of change. Okay, so before we get deeper into our discussion, I’d like to introduce to you our speakers for today, and we have them here. And we have Rosanna, we also have Denise, and we also have Joao, and we have Sakura, but online, we’re also joined with James. Yeah, I would really like to thank and appreciate each one of you for making it here today by joining us in this session. And today’s my first time moderating a session, so I’m not so sure how I feel. I’m excited, and yeah, I hope you guys enjoy. Yeah, so before we move further to this discussion, I would like to maybe at least say something about this session. As we all know that technology, I mean, climate change has been one of the most pressing issues in the world so far, and we have seen the role that technology plays in ensuring climate change is actually addressed. We have seen different ways, like renewable energies and all, but then we’ve also seen efforts that organizations and individuals put to address climate change. One thing that for me I know is that with great power, it comes great responsibility. So the more we use technology to solve the environment, the more we would want to find ways how we can ensure that technology doesn’t really affect us. And yeah, I would also like to invite my co-moderator from online, Igor, if he can, like, add something before we get deeper into our discussion. Can everyone hear me? Everyone hear me? Yes, yes, yes. Thank you.

Igor José Da Silva Araújo:
Good morning. Good night to you, too. Good morning. Good night to you, too. And dear participants, I’m Igor, José da Silva Araújo, rising in a small town in the Brazilian Northeast. I’m a young activist, a law student, and a representative of the Civil Society, the Latin American and Caribbean group. And it’s an honor to be here today to discuss a topic of great importance, climate change and technology implementation. We are currently in a critical juncture in a human story where climate change poses an imminent threat to our planet. Every day we witness the devastation impacts of this change worldwide, from natural disaster to the loss of biodiversity and threats to food security. Our common home, this planet, is undergoing unprecedented climate change. And we don’t need a scientific date to confirm in this moment what we witness daily. Extreme weather events, change in rainfall partners, and rising temperatures are palpable evidence that Earth is not as it used to be. As young activists and representatives from different sectors, we recognize that you represent not only the future, but also the present. We are not just the generation of tomorrow, we are the generation of today. We understand that our current actions have a direct impact on the future that we want to build. So the origins of the climate issues drive us to act now, to take responsibility and the pursuit of the fact solutions. So this is where technology plays a crucial role. And however, we are not alone in this journey. So history has taught us that humanity is capable of overcoming the most complex challenge when we come together and act with determination. Climate technology, including renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydropower, as well as adaptive practice like drought-resistant crops and early warning systems, are allies in the fight against climate change. They offer hope and concrete solutions to address this global challenge. But are they truly efficient? And is all that we can do in this moment? Our hot table will address fundamental questions like this and aims to stimulate new perspectives from each of you. This session aims to broaden perspectives on the whole of technology and addressing climate change, identify the types of technology and investment needed to achieve our goals, and understand the implications of this environment scenario. So our discussion is based on the principle that while nature reacts to this change, it’s human behavior that plays a fundamental role in this origin. So as we progress in this panel, let us remember that technology is a powerful tool that is how we use it that makes the difference. So we are here not only to discuss the challenge, but also to share concrete ideas and solutions. And most importantly, we are here to inspire action. So this is an opportunity for all of us to learn, share, and collaborate on potential technological solutions that can transform the economic, social, educational, and environmental aspects, and ultimately improve the quality of life worldwide. So finally, I appreciate the presence and interest of each one of you in this vital discussion for our planet. I will be here to provide the support in the online and moderation. And thank you so much for now.

Moderator:
Thank you very much, Igor. Yes, as he said, our main aim of this session is first to raise awareness on the role that technology can play in addressing climate change, but we’ll also be able to make some recommendations on how we can improve policies on climate change. Yes, but then in this discussion today, we’ll have some questions that are going to be guiding whatever that the speakers are going to be presenting. And the first one is, how can we, how can the internet and technologies collaborate to fight climate change? And the second one is, which kind of policies about technology and internet could collaborate on the theme of climate change? And what are the negative impacts of technology in climate change? Yes, so without wasting so much time, I’d like to give the floor to our first speaker, who is Sakura. So she’ll introduce herself, her stakeholder group, where she comes from. Yeah, and one thing to note, I hope you have noticed that on our panel today, we have young people. So I’m so excited to hear from them. Yes, thank you very much. Welcome.

Speaker:
Thank you, Millennium. I’m Sakura Takahashi from Japan. I’m speaking here today on behalf of Climate Youth Japan, which is a youth environmental NGO in Japan. I’m a student studying climate science and geospatial analysis in Keio University. In addition, I have several experiences of being part of youth interventions in the United Nations, such as attending Climate Change Cup, the Asia-Pacific Regional Ministerial Forum of UNEP as a delegate of the Children and Youth Major Group, and serving on OECD Youth Advisory Board 2022. In conjunction with my activities and area of expertise, I’m so excited to talk about the synergy of climate change and technology implementation. I would like to answer the first question and third questions. The first question is, how can the internet and technologies collaborate to fight climate change? So, well, we have various technological ways to tackle climate change-related issues, such as IoT, artificial intelligence, blockchain, climate prediction, and forecasting, and so on. I would like to discuss how artificial intelligence, so AI, can accelerate climate actions from the viewpoint of mitigation and adaptation. In the climate change discussion, we mainly have two approaches, mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to alleviate climate change. Adaptation is to take measures to adapt the effects of climate change, including reducing risks of adverse effects and exploring new solutions to live healthy in a changing climate world. In terms of mitigation, artificial intelligence can optimize electricity supply and demand. On the supply side, AI algorithms are being developed to optimize electricity supply by reflecting weather conditions and demand-side electricity usage. AI can also be used for building energy management in urban areas where electricity is primarily consumed. For example, the study found that it’s expected to save energy consumption by 9% during the summer season by learning the relationships between operation data of heat source equipment and total energy consumption in the building, and applying an optimization model created from learning results. That’s how AI can contribute to optimization of the supply-demand balance from production to consumption of electricity, contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions. In terms of adaptation, AI can enable us to develop early warning systems for severe disasters and more accurate climate forecast and prediction. Improvements of computing capabilities through supercomputers and the assimilation of global observation data by satellites have enabled more accurate and consistent weather and climate forecasts than were possible several decades ago. This has made it possible to reduce damage by taking early countermeasures in evacuation from extreme weather events and associated disasters. In addition, satellite data and climate models can be used to predict crop yields and determine suitable locations using machine learning, thereby contributing to a stable food supply under ever-changing climatic conditions. In this way, AI can help humans adapt to climate change’s adverse effects and find new opportunities. From these practices, I definitely believe that artificial intelligence can take an innovative role in tackling climate change. And I will move to the third question, which is what are the negative impacts of technology in climate change? So technology, including AI, significantly contributes to our urgent needs to respond to climate change, as stated through previous questions. However, it also has negative impacts on the environment and our life. I’d like to elaborate on this point in terms of energy consumption and the environmental impacts of hardware life cycle. In terms of energy use, the proliferation of electronic devices, data centers, and communication networks has driven a surge in energy demand, primarily by burning fossil fuels. Data centers, which power our digital world, are notorious energy gatherers. According to IEA, global data center electricity consumption in 2022 is estimated at around 1 to 1.3 percent of global electricity demand. Moreover, everyday gadgets like smartphones and laptops, from manufacturing to operation and disposal, collectively add to energy consumption and carbon emissions. In terms of life cycle hardware impacts, the production of electronic devices relies on resource-intensive processes, including mining rare minerals and metals, emitting greenhouse gases and polluting water. Manufacturing electronic components is energy-intensive and water-dependent. Rapid technological advancements lead to shorter product life cycles, resulting in a growing electronic waste, e-waste problem. E-waste disposal can release hazardous chemicals into the environment if not managed properly, exacerbating pollution and heat house risks, especially in developing countries. Additionally, planned obsolescence practices incentivize frequent replacements, driving resource consumption and e-waste generation. As technology has positive and negative impacts, as stated before, on the environment as well as climate, we need to gain literacy to understand both aspects of technology and use it wisely for creating a more sustainable life on the earth. Thank you.

Moderator:
Thank you very much, Sakura. Thank you for your contribution on how AI can be used to mitigate climate change. And next, I would invite James, who is online. Please welcome. The floor is yours.

James Amattey:
All right. Thank you very much. I believe I am very audible. Yes. So my name is James Amate, and I am from Ghana, specifically from the African group. I come from a background of software innovation, where we use software tools to improve daily lives from education down to how we move goods in delivery and logistics. Now I’m going to take this topic from a different angle, and that would be on question three, which is how technology is negatively affecting climate change. Now technology is an enabler of the digital economy that we are in. Fortunately, it’s able to help me to join you all the way in Japan, even though I’m seated right here in Ghana. But also, unfortunately, there are some limitations that this is causing to our climate. Now Sakura mentioned some of them, and I’m going to highlight a few more. Now other than the 6.2 billion devices that exist globally, according to Gartner, there over two chips per device. Now, these chips handle a wide range of processing and computational ability. And these processing and computational ability leads to battery drain, which requires frequent charging. Now, this frequent charging comes from a wide range of tools and mechanisms that have been put in place, including the widely known USB-C, which has been a standard that has been implemented since 2012, I believe, and is currently in the latest model of the iPhone, which was released a few months ago. Now, our research has shown that despite the change to USB-C, there is still a high level of consumptions, that is consumption of energy that’s required to keep phones running because of all the apps that exist today. Currently, the Google Play Store, which has over 1.2 million apps, and all of these apps require computation of one sort to be able to handle whatever processes they have. And these computations usually rely on cloud, which Sakura mentioned. Now, cloud in itself is an enabler of security and allowing the global service exportation. So for example, Uber is made in the US, but here in Ghana, I’m able to use Uber, and that’s because of cloud, but also cloud has its data. And also because of the structure of cloud and how it is the infrastructure and the investment that goes into it, you sometimes realize that it takes a lot more to run these apps than it actually costs to create them. And these involvements sometimes lead to that negative effect. Now, in Africa, where energy consumption is very high, but the production is very low, it sometimes becomes a deficit to the society, which is supposed to benefit, because there are some places where there is, should I say, energy inefficiencies. So to be able to balance the national production to the consumption of users and the requirements of these devices, it sometimes becomes a burden and actually leads to the creation of more energy. And that creation can be a good thing, but sometimes we need to ask ourselves, what is the source of that energy? Fortunately or unfortunately, that’s the most energy relies on fossil fuels. And so there is still that negative carbon defect that is currently going on. Now, because I come from the mobility space, I currently focus on mobility as a domain, that’s electric mobility, autonomous mobility. And this also brings a further, should I say, constraints on the energy produced. Now, previously cars were run on floor and there’s not too much reliance on electronics, but now with EVs and then the birth of autonomous mobility, the computational power that is required to move a car autonomously from one point to another is actually greater than how much fuel it usually costs when cars are just reliable for. So even though we have solved one of the problems that came with mobility that was floors and then the release of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide through the exhaust, now we have a different problem of trying to understand how much of electric power is required to move mobility, how much of electric power needs to be generated to charge and then move these things, how much of the national grid has to be allocated to drivers who are switching over to EVs and how much of a policy adjustment do we have to have on a national level to be able to accommodate the needs of EVs because EVs are moving from say personal automobiles to now industry level automobiles as high as construction automobiles. And these are going to take a very huge drain on the climate. So hopefully by the end of this talk, we will be able to delve into how we got here and how we can mitigate some of these problems without necessarily injuring the innovation that’s this place. So I hope this gives a little more light on the conversation and thank you for the opportunity.

Moderator:
All right, thank you very much, James, for your contribution. Without wasting so much time, I’ll welcome the third speaker, Joao. Yes.

João Vitor Andrade:
Hi, everyone. I’d like to thank you all to be present here today. My name is João Vitor, I’m from Brazil. I’m a law student and at the moment I’m into the Brazilian Supreme Court like an internship. This is an important topic to discuss today. And I think we have to discuss, we have to bring up into an event like this one, like the EGF and into some events into the United Nations. So I will bring up some ideas about the first question, how the internet and technologies collaborate to fight climate change. According to some global researches, just the Latin America could lose about $17 trillion between 2021 and 2017, 2070. About this topic, I’d like to emphasize that the internet and technology can play significant roles in the fight against climate change by enabling innovative solutions, facilitating information sharing and promoting sustainable practices. Here are some ways technology can help us fight against this problem. I’d like to highlight some, I don’t have much time to talk about them, but I’d like to say some. First one, data collection and analysis. The artificial intelligence can highlight improved sensors that collect real time environmental data, such as deforestation, temperature or quality, which can be used to develop climate monitoring and research. The sensors can be used not just to monitor the data, but can instantaneously warn policy or the responsible entity to struggle problem. Into the Brazil, for example, we have the IMPI, that’s an important institution that have been doing an excellent job, an excellent work into the Brazil and have been helping us, have been helping the government to create some solutions to the country and not just to the Brazil, but to the Latin America. Advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms can process vast amounts of data to identify patterns, trends and anomalies related to climate change, helping researchers and policy makers make informed decisions. The second one, renewable energy integration. Smart grid technologies can optimize the distribution and consumption of energy sources, becoming possible to reduce energy production from fossil fuels as coal and natural gas, reducing carbon emissions. In Brazil, for example, there is a waste of energy annually equal to a 20 million houses consumption in a period of one year. This is a lot more than we can think that is good. Something like we can use this energy, for example, to help the Latin America. And I think this also happens into the Europe and Asia and other continents. Energy management systems and demand response technologies can help balance energy supply and demand efficiently. About the carbon footprint reduction. The AI and the internet can virtual, can help with virtual meetings and remote work made possible by the internet, can reduce the need for commuting and business travel, lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This phenomenon was lived by all of us into the pandemic period, showing us that it’s possible to reeducate society for this new moment of history that demands our effort to achieve a common objective. E-commerce and digital services can replace traditional brick and mortar retail, reducing the environmental impact of physical stores. This is a good option to not just the Latin America, but to the North America, to the Europe, to the Asia and to the Africa. We know that all continents have a lot of stores and we know that all these things can collaborate to the gas emissions like CO, CO2 and others. We can think or rethink about these things to reduce carbon emissions and can collaborate to reduce, to struggle the climate change. About sustainable agriculture, and this is an important point to the Latin America because countries like Brazil, for example, a significant part of the GDP of my country come from the agriculture. Precision agriculture technologies can optimize crop production, reducing the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Internet connected sensors and drones can monitor silo conditions and crop health, enabling more efficient farming practices and collaborating to combat the climate change. This is a suggestion, like I said, not just to the Latin America, but to all countries who have great productions into the agricultural area. And I think we can discuss about this topic because the Brazil have been working on it to solve the problems about the gas emissions into the agricultural production. And this is an important point to discuss to countries like, for example, India and China that have a large productions of many things. About the climate communication and education, social media and online platforms can raise awareness about climate change and mobilize global efforts. We can use the online platforms, like, for example, Telegram, WhatsApp and other ones to show to many people. And this is an important point because in my country, for example, the population of Brazil, something about 80% of the population have access to internet. So we can use these things to achieve the population that many times don’t know about these important topics. So many times we just excuse these important points in places like this one. And the population of the countries, people around the globe don’t know about these things. Many times we are talking about climate change in a place like this one. And many people in Brazil, for example, don’t know about it. And many politicians like the ancient president of Brazil collaborate that things like this one don’t achieve the population. So the next one about the circular economy, and I think I’ll have more points by the time it’s up. So I can say about the circular economy, climate monitoring and early warning systems, transportation and climate modeling and prediction. So collaboration between governments, businesses, research institutions and individuals is crucial to leverage the full potential of the internet and technology in the fight against climate change. Policymakers can also incentivize and regulate sustainable practices and the development of eco-friendly technologies to accelerate progress. So this topic, the climate change, is not a problem of the world, but it’s a problem to the humans. We’re not talking about the planet. The planet will continue to exist, but we are talking about the existence of the humans. If humans don’t treat this problem like an important one, the humanity will finalize his existence into the new years. So we have to talk about this one. We have to think this thing into the governments, into a place like this one. We have to talk about into the colleges. And I think if we do this, if we do this homework, we can reduce and collaborate to the health of the planet. So thank you so much.

Moderator:
All right, thank you so much, João. Because of the time, I’ll advise the next speakers to use a few minutes. Yes, so I’ll welcome Rosana. Yes, please take the floor.

Rosanna Fanni:
Thank you. Thank you very much. I’m also very delighted to be able to speak here today. Yeah, my name is Rosana Fani. I am German and Italian, and I was based in Brussels until just a few weeks ago. And I’m actually today speaking behalf of the German Youth IGF, which I’m very, very happy and honored to represent here today. And we, as the German Youth IGF, have been actually discussing this topic as well. And we were convening together in September as part of our German IGF, so the local IGF that happened in Berlin. And we had an event, so to say, where we discussed the intersection between sustainability and digitalization. So how can the two things go hand in hand? And I will share some of the results that we have discussed and which we wanted to bring to Kyoto, to this IGF, to the global IGF. So I’m very, very happy, and I also thank the entire team that is now still sleeping in Europe for all the work that we have done together. But first, maybe let me share a few words about actually what the European Union is doing in the space of the green and digital. We in Europe have, I think, quite soon understood that the topic is crucial. I mean, Greta Thunberg and the climate movement has actually originated in Europe, as you know, in Sweden. And we feel a big responsibility also because Europe is a big emitter of climate change and climate emissions. And so this is why in 2019, the current European government or the European Commission has come up with very ambitious climate goals that we should achieve. So by 2030, so that’s in six years almost already, we should cut our climate emissions by half. And by 2050, we should be climate neutral, so net zero. That’s very, very ambitious also for the European economy that also relies often still on very traditional and very resource-intense ways of fueling the economy. But we also have understood that we need. to do it. We need to go ahead and so the European Commission has decided that they have a certain strategy that’s called the EU twin transition. And the EU twin transition is basically the combination of green and digital transitions together. So the idea is that only through technology and through data sharing innovation we can actually also make our economies more sustainable and climate friendly. And we have already heard that there are certain contradictions. However to this topic we know that the green and the digital can also clash. As my previous panelists have said for example more technological waste, e-waste and data privacy concerns when more data is shared. We have also difficulties when we do for example new and large language models that consume a lot of energy and so on. And we saw in the German IGF in September we have thought about what could be enabling conditions and what would be needed for policymakers to really enable a more just and digital transition that respects the rights of citizens not only in Europe but also globally. And so we have come up with three different areas where we would present so to say our recommendations. This is firstly the area of ecology or basically the environment. And the second area is the economy. And the third area is the social aspects. So I will start with our recommendations for the ecology or environment. The first point that we have concluded that we need more is better transparency. We think we need better systematic data on the environmental impact of digitization. So what we have already heard earlier. We need to understand better the entire lifecycle of the application. So not the internet that my tablet is using now but actually from the very moment on that the tablet is designed and that it’s conceptualized and built together in a factory. And we need more transparency as consumers about it. We should know how much the materials, the digital devices that we use actually consume. And we should also have the measurements should be taken out, carried out independently. So it should not be the companies themselves that may you know make some numbers nice but it should be independent measurement. And the results should also be made accessible in an accessible form. So not very complex reports that you have to study over hours but it should be very clearly and visible for users. Next point on the ecology is that we want to promote intrapreneurial thinking and a compliance culture. So we argue that we need to create new environments in which environmental sustainability is seen as a chance by startups for example or entrepreneurs. And that it also gives economic advantages instead and also long-term investments instead of something where you have to comply and where you have to tick the checkboxes so to say. And we think that this can happen through educational programs, raising awareness programs and yeah in order to ensure that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. And the third point of the ecology is that we want a legal commitment to sustainability by design and sustainability by default. So what I already said earlier in the design process already ecological sustainability should be included and also weighed as a factor of importance alongside other economic factors or performance related aspects. So that really consumers can see how much actually this device is sustainable or used sustainable approaches. And this is also sustainable by default. Okay then I will move to the aspects of the economy and there we have two points that we would like to present. The first one is independence and we believe that the circular economy approach should play a really central role in reducing the political dependence on individual countries with large critical raw material deposits. Maybe a little information square for those of you who haven’t really yet heard about critical raw materials. These are rare earths and minerals that are in everyone’s phones and tablets but they are also really crucial for for example solar panels or you know autonomous vehicles. So without those critical raw materials we could not be producing the technologies anymore that we use today and that we are solely reliant on for sustainable energy production for example on solar panels. But the problem is that these critical raw materials are mostly concentrated in a few countries so it’s very hard to get access to them and most countries are very dependent on those countries to allow them access. And so our point is really that we would need more independence and also expand recycling which is another point that I get to. Recycling and other circular economy initiatives where we could then reduce our independence on those countries but already use the critical raw materials that we have been extracting and to in order to really strengthen economic stability and security. When it comes to research funding and we also want to extend funding for the applied circular economy so that also researchers can better conceptualize how the value chain of those materials is and also how maybe new jobs can create it along this need. So last but not least the social aspects because we also believe that sustainability and digitalization should be benefiting all and not just the few privileged ones not only also in Europe but also worldwide. A key concern is still that we need more transparency and accountability in the context of digital education especially artificial intelligence. So we believe that manufacturers should have an obligation to explain actually their products especially also to children so that it’s clear to children I mean to us maybe it’s clear if you see ah this is made by an AI that it’s we know we understand it but it’s still very difficult to explain it to children. And we think it’s really important to prepare children for the digital world and also make them aware that there are risks and challenges. Then we will put forward another point on participation. So we want more equitable access for all population groups including also older people and children and also structurally discriminated groups and I think this is also very much in line with the panel because in Europe we have quite a good access already but if we look worldwide then we need much more and what needs to be done much more in terms of connectivity and enabling people to meaningfully participate in the digital environment. And last but not least we also hope to increase a digital sovereignty so we mean that the internet stays open free and secure and that we can have data sovereignty so that the data is not captured and sold by big tech companies but that individuals can decide over their own data where it’s going and what it is used for. And last but not least also educational projects especially in media and media training and media awareness and also to include the common good in digital policy. Thank you.

Moderator:
Thank you very much Rosanna. Thank you for sharing important points that you were taken from the youth IGF Germany. And lastly I would like to invite Denise.

Denise Leal:
Please welcome. Hi everyone. So I am Denise Leal from Brazil. I am here representing the Latin American Caribbean region and I am happy to say that I am also a former fellow from the program Youth from Brazil. I am seeing some people here that came with the delegation. I am also but today I’m here also representing the private sector. I know I am young but yes I’m representing the private sector. And also I am a researcher at the Brasilia University and my research it’s related with it. I am part of the natural resources law and sustainable development research group. And I would like to add some things that we have researched to this discussion to this topic. The first thing that I would like to say is we know that climate change exists is a problem and we know that we have solutions. Now we have heard a lot about the solutions that it’s possible to implement that we could implement technology solutions that we could use to help in helping solving the problem. But there is an aspect which is do we have the necessary infrastructure, the need infrastructure in every country to implement the solutions? Can we really implement them? When we talk about Latin American Caribbean we don’t have the need infrastructure to implement these technologies. Not all of the technologies. It’s expensive and also there are many people that don’t have the knowledge to deal and to work with these technologies. We need to put more effort on making cheaper solutions cheaper technology solutions to the countries who cannot buy the expensive solutions that well work really well but they don’t are accessible to these countries. Another point that I would like to bring is when it comes to legal disputes, when it comes to technology and environment disputes, what is the end of it? What is the final decision? What do judges decide when it comes to legal disputes? What do we have? So we have researched it in Brazil and it’s a cooperation actually of Brasilia University with Chile, France and also Canada and we’ve noticed that yes we have a lot of litigation on the theme of environment but when it comes to the end we have some good decisions that protect the environment but we have other problems like how can you guarantee that these decisions will really work? What we have in Brazil and in other countries that we have researched is you have a decision, a legal decision that will say that you have to protect the environment that yes this is there is a law saying that you have to protect the environment but in the end there is no way to comply with it like the fiscalization that it’s not easy and this is a huge problem like the control, accountability and compliance of the environment laws and court sentences are very fragile and many times the supervisory bodies are small and incapable of making a true and a constant daily supervision. So I wanted to add to the discussion this important aspect that we have researched in Brasilia University because sometimes we think that okay we have technology and we can implement it we are going to solve the climate change problems but it’s expensive and secondly it’s important to know that it’s hard to keep watching, keep your eye on it and how we don’t have and one of our policies questions is which policies can we make, can we build, can we think about to guarantee that we are really fighting against climate change and implementing technology so I would suggest that more than thinking about new laws how can we make the laws that we already have on environment topics really work so what I think is that we need to have more work, hard work on compliancy and comply with these laws that already exist. I think that everyone, the private sector, civil society, academia, tech community, United Nations and all the country’s governments especially those with the economic possibility and interest should put more effort on helping to find cheaper technology solutions to fight climate change and otherwise there are people in countries who won’t have the possibility of implementing it. To end my speech I think that we talk in a way the end is war, the world is ending for us but the world has already ended for some species. 45% of Cerrado Brazilian biome will end with an increase of 0.7 Celsius degree so it’s not one degree it’s 0.7 it’s less than a degree in 45% almost the middle of the whole biome is going to end with this increase so we are worried with our futures but what about the environment rights like doesn’t this species have the right to exist? Thank you so much and I also want to say thank you to my family and friends who are here and Obrigada. Alright thank you very much to our dear speakers

Moderator:
and I hope all of us have heard what they have presented and I’m actually from this discussion what I have noted mostly is the sense of accountability and responsibility that each one of us has to play to make sure that climate change is really addressed so yeah but since we are like out of time I’d like to open the floor to our participants if you have any contribution

Audience:
any question yes please use the mic behind yes hello everyone I’m Manu I’m from Brazil and I represent here Instituto Alana which is an organization dedicated to the protection of child rights and when we talk about the environment and digital rights it’s very very special to talk about children and I thank you for bringing this point and one thing that I would like to add to this debate is how can we think about the everlasting effects of digital colonization when we are talking about global solutions to problems that we have now and I think a great example it’s what happened earlier this year in Uruguay where Google wanted to build a big big data center and we talked about AI so much in this forum and about solutions that need this kind of infrastructure but the people there were having they couldn’t have water for their own consumption and then we had a government who was privileging the interest of a private company of a global power and that interest in that the interest of the local population so that’s a question like a global solutions are very important but we have everlasting effects of colonization and we are suffering with them and how do we think about digital sovereignty when we think about the solutions and when we think about how can we build in our countries like Brazil for instance and well building solutions that are not actually just serving for the purpose of big global interests and companies who are dominating this economical debate. Thank you very much for your contribution and we’ll move to the next person. Good morning everyone I’m Phelps I’m from Brazil I’m part of the youth delegation from Brazil and my question is about how could we deal better with electronic waste as one globally. As Sakura mentioned electronic devices have life cycles smaller as time goes by and this program of solvency is a really big deal and I can say this because there in Brazil, for instance, we have some local initiatives for recycling and that’s really important for us. Besides that, when it comes to electrical devices, it’s not that simple. Those initiatives do better when we say about paper, when we talk about plastic, but electrical devices, there is another level of treatment. I think I could say that. So lithium and other substances are really nocive to people and to the environment and in the all the environment and when they are used to technologies that even when they are used to technologies that could help us against climate change. So we have some kind sort of a problem right there. We create technologies that could help us against climate change, but use some kind of these substances in them. So we have kind of a cycle there and my question is where sustainability by design can appear in this scenario of high amount of technological waste and as UN says that’s a global issue and global issues are connected and that matters when we talk about climate change. Thank you very much. Hi everyone, sorry for the voice. I am Carla Braga. I am a mentor of the Brazilian Youth Delegation as well. I am Executive Director of the Amazonian Youth Corporation for Sustainable Development and I wanted to understand if we have any successful examples of our experience about facing the impacts of climate change in global south and if possible considering the Amazon region that has used the technology to face the challenge of climate change. Thank you. Thank you very much. Alright, do we have a question online? Igor? Any question online? No, no. Alright, so we’ll, ah, sorry, please welcome. Hi, this is Jasmine from Hong Kong.Asia. So I have, so I just want to respond to what Stanis just mentioned. I agree that like it also depends on how, you know, like each nation’s capacity and each territory, like how do they deal with, you know, like climate change and the problem of, you know, the key is how do we localize the so-called global solution into each, you know, different context. But the thing interesting I find out because, you know, like previous, like day zero, we actually, the .asia, we relaunched our e-commerce internet and that’s here. So we’ve done study about 14 jurisdictions about, you know, like energy consumption, efficiency, and also economy aspect of this jurisdiction. And it’s actually interesting that Hong Kong is actually not in a good position that we thought it is. So like I’m kind of like sad to say that Hong Kong is not in a very good performance status. So I just want to raise a point here. It seems like it’s not just about the capacity. So obviously we do have economic power and also infrastructure to localize the global solutions for, you know, like to tackle the climate change things. But here I just, I also want to get, you know, some inspiration and maybe good case practice from you guys when you have to identify the decision maker, you know, to talk about your agenda and your, you know, your thought about how to tackle with climate change. How do you identify them and how to lobby with them and, you know, negotiate some thoughts that you have as a youth. So I think that’s it, what I want to ask about. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, we, yeah, let’s do that. Hi, I’m Irene from, oh, sorry, what is your name? Hi, I’m Ethan from Hong Kong as well. So I believe that Sakura have just talked about how internets and technology to fight, can collaborate to fight climate changes. So actually I’ve been working on some, some same project, some projects that is related to this topic. And I have just a very short question, is that how can internet of things be harnessed, harnessed to create a more energy sufficient system and reduce carbon emission? And that’s all, thanks. So hi, I’m Irene from IEEE and it is very refreshing to see all these young people. So I think I should put you also in contact with the IEEE young professionals task for climate change. So I, innovation is very close to IEEE and I was doing, analyzing patents for a living for a long time, working also with NP Brazil. So I think we know as a, as a fact that we have enough technology innovation and I think the examples that you mentioned around, which are the win-win situations where it’s about energy efficiency are an easy sell for companies. But the question is, who is taking the accountability about, you know, adopting the other technologies which are very costly? And I wonder where the other, you would have some other thoughts on beyond some incentives that the government’s could give, because the question is, are these enough? And I would like to have your thoughts about what do you think is the importance in, Rosanna mentioned before about the importance of lifecycle assessment. So I was wondering, there is a discussion in Europe about the European Green Digital Coalition, about how do we define, for example, avoided emissions when we talk about net impact. So I was wondering what are your thoughts about systems thinking in that, and what is the role of standards in that? Thank you so much.

Moderator:
Thank you very much. Since we’re out of time, I’ll welcome the speakers, if you can respond to any of the questions asked. Please. Yeah, one minute or second.

Rosanna Fanni:
Okay, thanks a lot for so many questions. I’m glad to hear that we have sparked so many ideas and thoughts. I will just maybe touch on two points, the one point on a colonization and the other point on standards. So first on colonization, absolutely, that’s a huge problem. I think also, especially big tech companies have way too much power, as we know, and there should be, I think, more concerted efforts by the United Nations, by other supranational and international organizations to curb the power of those tech companies. But at the same time, I think, again, transparency is super important, because if consumers would really see the impact of, for example, a Google data center in, why did you say, yes, perhaps there would be, you know, also a mind change from the consumer side and from the recipient side. So I think it’s really important to bring more transparency and also to have more global reporting about those cases, because there’s similar cases with Meta doing the Open Africa ICT project, where they scan biometric data of citizens and use citizens to explore, so to say, the 3D landscape. The second point on standards, I hate actually not mention it, but standards are also one part of the European strategy, of course, and to standardize green digitalization together. I think standards are absolutely crucial, but again, there the question is, how do those standards bodies produce those standards? Is it inclusive enough? Is it also representative of civil society and maybe members that cannot afford to be in those standardization bodies? And definitely, I think, in the end, all these questions that we discuss ultimately political questions that policy makers have to tackle first, and if policy makers do not put their priority on green and digital or digital sustainable digitalization, we will not get anywhere. So I think it all originates in political priorities and making this even more topic, and then through standardization and other measures that I’ve already mentioned. Thank you. Thank you very much,

Moderator:
Rosana. One more contribution, please, and then the rest we can. So thank you for

Denise Leal:
this amount, this large amount of questions. We are happy with your participation. So I’ve noted something here. I wanted to speak about the question of successful examples and lobby, the question of lobby and about the standards. Beginning with this last one about the standards, we have ESG with all those standards, but I think that the reports, they are, we have a lot of lies on the reports. So there is a problem. How can we really read these reports on climate and with the standards that deal with climate change and believe on them? I think that we need to work more on how we can check these reports and how they are made, because the standards are good, but they are there and we don’t have how to check them. And again, we are with the problem of compliance, how we check those things and how can we make them really true, because I think that the standards are good, but we don’t have how, we don’t have a really nice way to check if they are being true in the reports. And the successful examples and also about lobby, I think that we can talk about this too, together. We had some, we have studied some examples when politician and lawyers have worked together in, to create some solutions on patents and biodiversity aspects. So they, we know that when it comes to international treats, we have some problems because you cannot solve things only with legal disputes. You need politicians to help you. So what we have noticed in the international aspects of environment and legal disputes is that when you have these two groups working together, the legal group and the politician group, you might have something, some good example of success in the end. I cannot say that we have a lot of successful examples, like we know there is more traditional communities that have successful examples of how to protect environment, but it’s really small. It’s a thing that we can adopt in our small communities, but if we are speaking in a more big way, looking globally for a solution, we must make our politician and our legal teams work together, like the judge and the politician must work in the same line. They must be aligned, it’s what I think, and what we have noticed in our research. Thank you.

Moderator:
30 seconds, please. Okay, I will answer the question from, I forgot the name of the

João Vitor Andrade:
of the sir of the Hong Kong, but about the electric system, about the consumption and about the distribution, how we can build a better system. I will give the example of my country to answer your question because I think I have more knowledge about that and so I can explain better. The question that I have to think is, how we can build a better system where we can distribute and not just think about the production, but how we use correctly the energy in our countries. Because many countries in Brazil, I include Brazil here, just thinking about the production, for example in my country at the moment we have a discussion about the production of wind energy offshore, and in Brazil we have a lot of debates about this topic, because it’s more cheap to produce energy instead of to rethink the system, to rethink the system to build a better system for a good distribution. So what I think that the countries have to do is, where is in the region of the country we can use AI to do it, what part of the country have a higher consumption, what have a low consumption. So we can use the AI to achieve these numbers and can rethink about it, because if we use it we will not need to produce more energy, but just to distribute correctly into the country. So if we do it, we can reduce, for example, the use of fossil fuels, like coal, and large countries like China, for example, have a great production of energy based on coal. So if we think, if we build a better system to distribute correctly the energy, we can reduce the use of fossil fuels, for example, and you can reduce the carbon emissions and collaborate to fight against the climate change. So I think I don’t have much time, but thank you so much for the question. Thank you very much. Thank you for various questions. I’d like to

Speaker:
answer about e-waste and energy efficient systems. Well, about e-waste, how we can tackle the e-waste, because it’s a global problem. It’s definitely, I totally agree with it, because the e-waste is not the problem that related to the, directly related to the countries, about the e-waste, e-waste production country and consumption countries. So I think the community, the engagement and the policies that support those activities and initiatives at the local levels are important, because if we can create good policies, if the local people or the people on the ground can’t take the actions or provide their voices to the decision-makers, the policies are not implemented. So how we can take these problems seriously and take actions urgently is really important. So at the first big step that we need to, what happens in the other areas in the same world, and also as well as knowledge sharing from the other areas, because even if we have the multifaceted programs in the different part of the world, we can have something, we can learn about something from the latest problems. And also, I think we need opportunities to discuss and learn about the case studies more, because we can get the feel of the centre, how to say that, we can let people be involved in the same programs. And regarding the energy-efficient systems, how the internet harnesses energy-efficient systems, the speaker from the Hong Kong asked, I think that smart grid and the energy consumption and production at the local levels are really important. So some areas in Japan, mainly in the metropolitan cities, we take the local heat management system, and also we are trying to develop smart grid systems that can manage the energy supply and demand in the local, I mean, the specific areas focusing. So the smart grid and the local level, the energy management systems are really important. Thank you.

Moderator:
Thank you very much, Sakura. James, please, one line to close, to conclude your… All right. Since he’s not there, I’d really like to appreciate each one of you for participating and joining us in this session. Thank you very much for being an amazing audience, for asking questions and contributing. See you around. Our speakers will be outside for any questions, any contacts, please let’s meet outside. Thank you.