Cooperation for a Green Digital Future | IGF 2023

Yawri Carr

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize our approach to sustainability and shape a sustainable future. By harnessing the power of AI, we can effectively address the challenges posed by climate change, protect the environment, and build resilient and sustainable communities.

AI applications have emerged as powerful tools for monitoring and protecting the environment. Through advanced data analysis and machine learning algorithms, AI can provide real-time information about environmental changes, enabling us to take proactive measures to mitigate negative impacts. For example, AI-driven systems can monitor pollution levels, deforestation rates, and wildlife habitats to inform conservation efforts and promote sustainable practices.

The predictive capabilities of AI are also instrumental in tackling climate change and natural disasters. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data gathered from various sources to accurately predict climate patterns, identify potential hazards, and assess the risks associated with climate-related events. This information can help us develop effective disaster response strategies, plan for resilient infrastructure, and minimize the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.

In addition, AI can optimize the use of green energy resources, making our energy systems more sustainable and efficient. Through AI-powered algorithms, renewable energy generation and distribution can be optimized, ensuring that energy resources are utilized effectively and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Furthermore, AI can contribute to building safe and sustainable cities. By analyzing various data sources, such as traffic patterns, air quality measurements, and infrastructure performance, AI systems can help optimize urban planning and improve resource allocation. This can lead to reduced congestion, improved air quality, and a better overall quality of life in cities.

Engaging and empowering youth in leveraging AI for sustainability is crucial. Integrating informatics and AI education into school curricula and online platforms is essential to equip the younger generation with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilize AI in a responsible and sustainable manner. Initiatives like global hackathons, innovation challenges, and youth-led technology hubs can foster creativity and problem-solving abilities among young people, driving innovation for a sustainable future.

It is also important to ensure that education and innovation opportunities are accessible to regions and groups that have historically faced discrimination or limited access to resources. By promoting inclusivity, we can leverage the diverse perspectives and talents of individuals from different backgrounds to address sustainability challenges effectively.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to profoundly impact sustainability efforts. By providing tools for environmental monitoring, predicting climate change and disasters, optimizing green energy, and improving urban planning, AI can contribute to building a sustainable future. Engaging and empowering youth in leveraging AI for sustainability is crucial. Investing in education and encouraging youth-led innovation are essential steps in combating climate change and ensuring a more sustainable world for future generations.

Audience

The analysis presents several significant insights and concerns regarding environmental protection and the impact of technology on biodiversity. Firstly, Michelle and Alexia emphasized the crucial role of transparency in environmental reports. This indicates the need for accurate and accessible information regarding environmental issues, allowing for better decision-making and accountability. Furthermore, Alexia highlighted how technology can influence biodiversity, drawing attention to the potential positive or negative consequences of technological advancements.

Another key concern raised in the analysis is the impact of technology and digital disputes on environmental rights and protection. Research from Brasília University revealed that legal disputes often fail to effectively protect the environment. Moreover, there is an observed disparity in international legal disputes relating to environmental protection. This indicates the necessity for a more robust and harmonized approach to address digital disputes and ensure effective environmental protection.

The analysis also advocates for stronger protection for the environment in legal disputes related to technology and the digital sphere. Evidence suggests that there is often a disparity between environmental laws and regulations and the actual outcomes of legal disputes. As a result, it is argued that a more comprehensive and stringent framework is required to safeguard the environment.

In terms of climate change, decarbonization and carbon sequestration were highlighted as measures aimed at mitigating its effects. However, it is noted that these measures may not be fully aligned with the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This raises questions about the effectiveness and adequacy of current climate change mitigation strategies.

Additionally, the extraction of natural resources was discussed in relation to human rights violations. The analysis suggests that these violations may not be fully considered when calculating carbon footprints or establishing benchmarks. This indicates a need to reassess how human rights concerns are factored into measures of environmental impact.

The environmental impact of continuous data collection was a further area of concern. It was revealed that data centres surpass the entire airline industry in terms of CO2 emissions. This prompts a reevaluation of the necessity and consequences of ongoing data collection practices.

Furthermore, the analysis raised concerns about the societal impact of data collection policies on marginalized communities. Specific mention was made of how data is being used to prevent migrants and forcibly displaced persons from seeking asylum. This raises ethical and human rights issues, highlighting the potential negative consequences of data collection policies.

Finally, the analysis concludes that the measures and policies implemented to address climate change may not be sufficient or as effective as claimed. Moreover, they may even have unforeseen negative impacts. The aggregated evidence presented, encompassing decarbonization, natural resource extraction, data collection, and human rights, supports the need for reevaluating and strengthening current approaches to safeguarding the environment and addressing climate change.

In summary, the analysis provides valuable insights into the importance of transparency in environmental reporting, the impact of technology on biodiversity, and the necessity for stronger environmental protection in legal disputes related to technology. Concerns were raised regarding the alignment of decarbonization and carbon sequestration measures with IPCC findings, the consideration of human rights violations in carbon footprinting, the environmental impact of continuous data collection, and the negative societal impacts of data collection policies on marginalized communities. It concludes by highlighting the need to reconsider existing climate change measures and policies to ensure their effectiveness and mitigate any unintended negative consequences.

Nadia Owusu

The analysis reveals several key points regarding the involvement of young people in digitalisation, decision-making, and sustainable practices. One of the main findings is that 75% of people online are young individuals aged between 15 and 21. Therefore, it is crucial for governments, private sectors, and youth organisations to recognise and treat young people as partners. This highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder consultations, where these different entities come together to discuss and collaborate on various issues. By involving young people as partners, their perspectives and ideas can be incorporated into policies and initiatives related to digital technologies, government policy, the private sector, and youth engagement.

To further ensure the inclusion of young people’s perspectives, it is recommended that young representatives be appointed to government committees and boards. This will help ensure that the decision-making process takes into account the insights and experiences of young individuals. By involving young representatives, the government can address the concerns and needs specific to this demographic, fostering a more inclusive decision-making process.

Another key finding is the importance of education and awareness regarding the Digital Footprint Initiative (DFI) and sustainable digital ecosystems. By promoting education on these topics, young people can become more informed and responsible digital citizens. This will enable them to contribute to the creation of a sustainable digital environment, in alignment with the goals of SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 13: Climate Action.

Additionally, the analysis emphasises the need for support from government and private stakeholders in empowering young innovators to build sustainable digital technologies. By providing resources, funding, and mentorship, young innovators can develop solutions that address environmental, social, and economic challenges. This aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and the collective goal of building a sustainable future.

Another focal point highlighted in the analysis is the importance of climate action and the development of digital skills for young people. By prioritising climate action, governments and private sectors can work towards mitigating the impact of climate change. Additionally, the emphasis on digital skills development ensures that young people are equipped with the necessary tools to navigate the digital landscape and contribute meaningfully to the economy. Both of these efforts are in line with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 13: Climate Action.

The analysis also identifies the need for established mechanisms for feedback evaluations to assess the effectiveness of policies. By establishing such mechanisms, governments can better understand the impact of their policies and make necessary adjustments to ensure they align with the intended objectives. This promotes accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in policy-making, contributing to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Furthermore, the analysis suggests that young people should advocate for green tech, participate in e-waste recycling, use energy-efficient devices, limit their streaming time, and practice digital minimalism. By adopting these practices, young individuals can contribute to responsible consumption and production, in line with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13: Climate Action.

It is noteworthy that Nadia Owusu, a participant in the analysis, supports the importance of youth involvement in discussions related to digitalisation and the green economy. Moreover, Nadia suggests that these discussions should be continued in other platforms such as the UNFCCC climate change conference and COP28 in Dubai. This highlights the need to engage a broader range of stakeholders and networks to address climate change and foster sustainable practices.

In conclusion, the analysis underscores the significance of involving young people as partners in decision-making processes, promoting education and awareness of sustainable practices, supporting young innovators, emphasising climate action and digital skills development, establishing feedback mechanisms, and advocating for responsible consumption and production. The insights gained from this analysis shed light on the potential of young people in driving positive change and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Michelle Thorne

In the analysis, several key points are highlighted by different speakers. Firstly, it is underscored that a significant proportion of internet infrastructure relies on fossil fuels for power. This usage not only contributes to environmental pollution but also poses a challenge in terms of sustainability. As electricity demands for general computing and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to rise, the increase in digitisation aggravates the problem further. To address this issue, the speakers argue for a transition towards sustainable energies to power internet infrastructure, promoting SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Secondly, the analysis points out a lack of transparency and accountability regarding the environmental impacts of digital technologies. Specifically, there is limited reporting on scope three emissions from the digital supply chain, which encompasses the indirect emissions associated with the lifecycle of digital products and services. Additionally, it is noted that tech companies are lagging behind in publishing credible net-zero targets, indicating a lack of commitment to reducing their environmental footprint. Furthermore, some tech companies perform worse than fossil fuel companies when it comes to transparency in disclosing their environmental impacts. This lack of transparency and accountability contributes to the overall negative sentiment surrounding the environmental effects of digital technologies, linked to SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG13: Climate Action.

Another important argument put forth in the analysis is the need for democratic involvement in decisions regarding infrastructure planning and resource allocation. The absence of community participation in determining the placement and maintenance of infrastructure is highlighted, raising concerns about top-down decision-making processes that may neglect environmental considerations. There are specific instances of community backlash against non-environmentally friendly practices, suggesting that communities should have a say in shaping infrastructure plans and ensuring sustainability measures are implemented. This argument aligns with SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Michelle Thorne, an advocate for digital innovation, presents a positive perspective in the analysis. She emphasises the importance of creating economic opportunities and benefits for the most impacted individuals in various areas. By promoting digital innovation, Thorne aims to foster economic growth and address the goal of reducing inequalities, aligning with SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG10: Reduced Inequalities. Furthermore, she warns against the potential development of a “brittle monoculture” online. Rather than consolidating market power in the hands of existing companies, Thorne advocates for a diverse and open internet ecosystem that allows for equal participation and representation.

Overall, the analysis sheds light on various challenges and opportunities related to the environmental and social impacts of digital technologies. It underscores the need for a transition to sustainable energies in powering internet infrastructure, greater transparency and accountability regarding environmental impacts, democratic involvement in decision-making processes, and the promotion of a diverse and open internet ecosystem. These points highlight the importance of addressing these issues to achieve a more sustainable and equitable digital future, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Bitange Ndemo

This comprehensive analysis focuses on various topics related to climate action and sustainable energy. One notable finding is that Kenya heavily relies on green energy sources, with 94% of its energy coming from geothermal, wind, and hydro sources. This showcases the country’s commitment to sustainable practices and serves as an example for other nations to follow.

The analysis also highlights the potential of Africa to tap into its abundant sunshine, geothermal deposits, and rivers to generate green energy. By capitalising on these natural resources, Africa can strengthen its energy independence and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.

Moreover, government strategies are identified as a crucial factor in reducing carbon emissions and involving youth in climate action. The analysis suggests that strategies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, such as promoting online conferences and teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a decrease in carbon emissions due to reduced travel. Additionally, involving young people in every aspect of climate action can help foster a sense of ownership and empower the next generation to play an active role in finding sustainable solutions.

Regenerative agriculture is another concept highlighted in the analysis. It is argued that certain farming practices can lead to carbon sequestration, which removes carbon from the air and helps mitigate climate change. This presents an opportunity for the agricultural sector to not only address food security but also contribute positively to climate action.

Education is identified as a key factor in creating awareness about climate change. By providing quality education, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges posed by climate change and the importance of sustainable practices. This knowledge is crucial in empowering individuals to make informed decisions and take action.

Furthermore, the analysis explores the potential of information technology in precision farming for efficient resource use and carbon sequestration. By utilising IT in the sequestration of carbon for precision farming, the agricultural sector can play a significant role in combating climate change. This approach allows for better resource management and the reduction of carbon emissions, thus contributing to a more sustainable future.

In conclusion, the analysis brings attention to various strategies and approaches to promote climate action and sustainable energy. The examples from Kenya’s green energy efforts, the potential of Africa, government strategies, regenerative agriculture, education, and the use of information technology all serve as important pathways towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. By adopting these practices and collaborating on a global scale, we can work towards a greener and more sustainable planet.

Alexia Gonzalez Fanfalone

The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the role of digital technologies in achieving environmental sustainability goals. It emphasizes the importance of common measurement standards to track the environmental impacts of digital technologies. The current lack of harmonisation in metrics makes it challenging to accurately assess and compare these impacts. The argument put forth is that only what can be measured can be improved. By implementing common measurement standards, policymakers and stakeholders will have a clearer understanding of the environmental effects of digital technologies, allowing them to develop more effective strategies for mitigating these impacts.

Furthermore, the analysis highlights the significance of a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach to leverage digital technologies for environmental sustainability. While some communication regulators have partial mandates on environmental sustainability, only a fifth possess a direct mandate. This indicates that greater collaboration and coordination are needed among governments and stakeholders to fully harness the potential of digital technologies in promoting environmental sustainability. By adopting a holistic approach, policymakers can ensure that digital technologies are effectively utilised to address environmental challenges.

Digital technologies also have the potential to reduce their environmental footprint. For instance, the transition to energy-efficient communication networks can significantly decrease energy consumption. Additionally, the use of AI systems to optimise energy management of networks can lead to further energy savings. These advancements in digital technologies contribute to the overall reduction of the environmental impact.

Moreover, digital technologies play a crucial role in enabling other sectors of the economy, such as through the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart agriculture. The IoT allows for more efficient resource management, enabling industries to operate in a more sustainable manner. Smart agriculture practices, powered by digital technologies, increase precision and productivity while minimising resource wastage. This demonstrates the positive impact that digital technologies can have on multiple sectors of the economy, facilitating sustainable development.

The analysis also highlights the importance of efforts towards environmental equity, transparency, and a human-centric approach. These factors are essential for inclusive growth and development. By promoting environmental equity and transparency, policymakers can ensure that the benefits and burdens of environmental sustainability are shared fairly among different communities. Furthermore, a human-centric approach to the digital transition is vital, as it ensures that the adoption of digital technologies is directed in a positive way for society and the environment.

In addition to these main points, the analysis suggests that addressing systemic effects and other planetary boundaries beyond energy and resource efficiency is crucial. Issues such as biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, biochemical flows, and air pollution need to be considered in conjunction with energy and resource efficiency to achieve comprehensive environmental sustainability.

In conclusion, the analysis advocates for harnessing digital technologies to achieve green objectives and emphasises the need for a holistic approach. By implementing common measurement standards, adopting a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach, reducing environmental footprints, enabling other sectors of the economy, promoting environmental equity and transparency, and directing digital transitions in a human-centric manner, we can effectively leverage digital technologies for environmental sustainability. However, it is imperative to go beyond energy and resource efficiency and address systemic effects and other planetary boundaries in danger. By considering these factors, policymakers and stakeholders can make significant strides towards achieving a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

Patryk Pawlak

The analysis reveals several important points regarding the future of the internet and its environmental impact. Firstly, Patryk Pawlak emphasises the urgency of creating and implementing a ‘Declaration for the Future of the Internet’, which has already garnered support from over 70 countries. The aim of this declaration is to promote an open, free, safe, secure, and interoperable internet. It also seeks to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, promote inclusive and affordable connectivity, and foster trust in the global digital ecosystem, including through privacy protection.

In addition to the declaration, Patryk highlights the need for a multi-stakeholder panel to discuss ways to minimise the environmental impact of the internet and digital technologies. Plans are underway to conduct a workshop with participants from diverse backgrounds and expertise, which serves as the initial step in this conversation. Patryk recognises that addressing this issue will require ongoing, long-term discussions and concrete actions.

Furthermore, Patryk points out the importance of coordinated policies and infrastructure planning to minimise the environmental impacts. He provides an example of inefficient policy coordination between road construction and fibre optic cable installation, resulting in unnecessary harm to the environment. This underscores the need for better coordination and planning to minimise such negative consequences.

Moreover, Patryk advocates for learning and implementing strategies and frameworks that support green digital transition while prioritising environmental considerations. He urges Alexia to share thoughts on how digital technology deployments could support this transition. Additionally, Patryk acknowledges the role of organisations like the OECD in spearheading discussions on topics related to green digital transition and environmental considerations.

The report also highlights the interconnection between connectivity, digital financial inclusion (DFI), and the green transition. Various governments have recognised the importance of connectivity and its connection to the green transition and DFI. It is emphasised that the principle of connectivity needs to be prioritised in both the DFI and the green transition.

Finally, the analysis suggests that the use of new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), can address the digital transition’s impacts on climate and the environment. Jari Kar, a researcher at Telecommunications Technical University in Munich, has worked on the use of AI systems, demonstrating the potential for these technologies to contribute to addressing climate and environmental concerns.

In conclusion, the analysis emphasises the significance of creating a ‘Declaration for the Future of the Internet’, establishing a multi-stakeholder panel to discuss environmental impact, coordinating policies and infrastructure planning, supporting green digital transition, prioritising connectivity in the green transition and digital financial inclusion, and utilising new technologies to address the environmental impact of the digital transition.

Pearse O’Donohue

The European Union (EU) Commission has identified the green transition as one of its key priorities. In a strategic foresight report in 2022, it was stated that the digital footprint is responsible for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to 5 to 9% of electricity consumption. Furthermore, the digital sector is also increasingly contributing to e-waste. However, there is hope as digital solutions have the potential to cut about 15% of total emissions by 2030.

Acknowledging the need for action, the EU has launched the European Green Digital Coalition. This coalition is led by prominent industry players such as JESI, ETNO, Digital Europe, Digital SME Alliance, and GSMA. Its main objective is to encourage all players in the ICT sector to invest in designing and deploying digital solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the durability and circularity of digital devices and equipment. The EU views this as a crucial step towards achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Moreover, better integrated digitalization in environmental and climate policies is believed to yield positive results. The correct implementation of the digital transition not only supports the green transition but also receives support from it. The provision of green digital solutions in climate-critical sectors can have a significant positive impact on the environment, particularly for vulnerable geographies and societies. This aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and highlights the potential for mutually beneficial development.

Data collection and credible data play a significant role in addressing climate change. The importance of data was emphasized during a session where panelists discussed the role of governments in collecting data and the need for reliable information. This underscores the need for accurate and scientifically sound data to inform effective climate action policies and decision-making.

The EU is committed to ensuring that the ICT sector moves towards carbon neutrality and contributes to other sectors in their journey to achieve climate goals. The Energy Efficiency Directive specifically targets climate-neutral data centers by 2030. This commitment aligns with SDG 9 and SDG 13, showing the EU’s determination to harness the potential of the ICT sector for positive environmental impact.

To prevent market dominance and promote fair competition, the EU is willing to enforce regulatory measures. The Digital Market Act and the Digital Services Act aim to break down monopolies or duopolies, provide opportunities for market entry, involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and measure the impact of their work. These initiatives align with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Lastly, detailed and independent measurements for green data centers are crucial. Efforts are already underway to ensure credible measurement through collaboration between the joint research center and the industry. However, there is a need for more comprehensive models that consider gross and net power consumption, as well as water consumption. This aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

In conclusion, the EU Commission’s focus on the green transition and the efforts to drive sustainable digital solutions through the European Green Digital Coalition demonstrate a commitment to address the environmental impact of the digital sector. By integrating digitalization into environmental and climate policies, collecting credible data, promoting carbon neutrality within the ICT sector, and enforcing regulatory measures, the EU aims to achieve its sustainability goals and contribute to the global climate action agenda.

Sarah Walkley

The impact of digital technology on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) is not fully understood, leading to a misjudgment of the environmental consequences of their digital habits. Although SMEs’ digital footprint is relatively small compared to other sources of emissions, it is growing intensively, raising concerns about its long-term effects.

There is a significant need for education to help businesses understand the energy implications of their digital habits and choices. Many SMEs believe that because their operations are online, they do not need to develop a sustainability strategy. However, this overlooks the significant energy usage associated with digital technologies. Businesses should carefully consider the energy usage of their hosting providers and the efficiency of their code, as these factors can have a substantial impact on energy consumption.

Leveraging existing policies and connections can play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices among SMEs. One effective strategy is encouraging marketers to clean up stored data, which is compliant with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), reducing data storage and energy usage. Additionally, exploring the co-benefits of existing policies and how they can be leveraged to drive sustainability efforts is important.

In conclusion, SMEs need a better understanding of the environmental implications of their digital habits. Education is vital in helping them make more sustainable choices and develop strategies that consider the energy impact of their digital operations. By leveraging existing policies and connections, businesses can further promote sustainable practices. It is important to address these issues promptly to mitigate the potential negative environmental effects associated with the growing digitization of SMEs.

Patryk Pawlak:
Good afternoon, everyone. We will start soon, but if you are not too shy and would like to support the speakers by taking the seats around the table, that would also be great. I promise they don’t bite, but it will at least make them feel a bit more welcome in the room. Thank you very much for cooperating. Okay, good afternoon, everyone, again. We have to finish on time. There’s another session coming up, so let’s start. My name is Patryk Pawlak. I’m a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Europe, which is a think tank working on foreign and security policy issues, but also on the whole set of digital topics. Today’s session is the second one hosted by the European Union linked to Declaration for the Future of the Internet. On day zero, some of you may have heard we co-hosted with the United States, Japan, and Kenya a multi-stakeholder engagement. on how to translate and turn the principles of the DFI into concrete actions. For those of you who are not familiar with what the Declaration for the Future of the Internet is, it’s a document that has been endorsed by over 70 countries with the broad aim of promoting open, free, safe, secure and interoperable Internet. Some of the principles in the document include, for instance, the protecting human rights and the fundamental freedoms for all people, advancing inclusive and affordable connectivity, or promoting trust in the global digital ecosystem, including through protecting privacy. During this session, we will look for concrete recommendations towards operationalization of one of the commitments that is contained in the document, and that’s to cooperate to maximize the enabling effects of technology for combating climate change and protecting the environment, while reducing, as much as possible, the environmental footprint of the Internet and digital technologies. The workshop aims to provide a platform for discussion about the ways to minimize the environmental impact of the Internet and digital technologies, and we’re not going to solve the problem during this session. I know that there are also many other sessions happening on the topic during the IGF, but we hope as well that this is going to be the beginning of the conversation, but also a call for action and the implementation of the DFI. So we would really like to identify some concrete action points, and please feel free to join us during the discussions. Now to help us meet the overall objective of the session, we have an excellent and a truly multi-stakeholder panel in the room and online. So we will be switching between the panelists sitting next to me, but also our esteemed speakers who are already online with us. Here in the room we have Piers O’Donoghue, who is the Director for the Future Networks Directorate of the DigiConnect, the European Commission, Nadia Owusu, who is a youth advocate working on the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and climate action, and then Bitangon Demo, who currently is the ambassador of Kenya to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, but also has extensive experience as an academic and the Permanent Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communications. Joining us online are Sarah Walkley, who is a market researcher, writer, and advisor on sustainability topics, and the CEO of an organization called Purpurfully. Yari Carr, who is an artificial intelligence and internet governance researcher, currently pursuing her master’s at the Technical University in Munich. She also coordinated with the Internet, which was the National Dialogue for the Future of the Internet in Costa Rica. Also online, Michelle Thorne, who is working towards a fossil-free internet. She’s the Director of Strategy and Partnership for the Green Web Foundation, but previously worked as a co-founder, sorry, and the co-founder of the Green Screen Coalition for Digital Rights and Climate Justice. She served for 12 years at the Mozilla Foundation, most recently at their Sustainable Internet Lead. And finally, also online, Alexia Gonzalez-Fanfalone, who is an economist and telecommunication policy analyst at the OECD, working on the whole set of issues ranging from broadband infrastructure and services, including sustainability. So, even though it doesn’t necessarily look like our partner is gender-balanced, I ensure you that it is, and we have made an effort that we bring different perspectives to the conversation. Not to lose more time, let me kick off the discussion with a question to your peers. The twin transition, green and digital, is one of the European Union’s key priorities. And I was wondering if you could tell us maybe what is the main focus of the EU policies at the moment, and how do they contribute towards the implementation of the DFI, which of those elements are? are sort of critical for the conversation that we’re having today.

Pearse O’Donohue:
Thank you very much and good afternoon, everybody. Yes, indeed, not only is it a priority, but green transition is one of the two key priorities of this Commission under President van der Leyen, the other, by the way, being digital. So the green digital transition is something that we are focused on, including in my part of the European Commission, with an ambition to lead those transitions, but also to benefit, to harness the benefits from it for Europe and for society in general. We’ve worked over four years to support the transition to sustainability of the ICT sector, but also to maximise the contribution made by digital technologies, infrastructures and applications in the green transition. So those are digital solutions for our carbon targets as well. We have the strategic foresight report in 2022 that told us that digital footprint is about 3% of global, of greenhouse gas emissions, about 5 to 9% of electricity consumption and of course an ever-increasing amount of e-waste. So there can be no disputing that there is a real problem caused in the sector, which has to be part of any action that we take, including with regard to the DFI. Of course, stakeholders have been taking their responsibilities. We’re aware of stakeholders-led initiatives such as the Digital with Purpose, the Climate Neutral Data Centres Pact and the Circular Electronic Partnership, and that’s just a few of them, and I know that others are probably represented in this meeting this afternoon. Some have made some progress, but more needs to be done to drive the ICT sector to net zero, both in terms of its energy consumption, but also, of course, the efforts that it is making with regard to materials and waste. And that means that all the ICT sector players need to invest in designing and deploying digital solutions that will keep GHGs, greenhouse gases, in check, and also increase the durability and circularity of digital devices and equipment. And we feel our role as a regulator is not necessary to regulate that up front, but to make sure that those partners in industry who do engage proactively and responsibly in such activities are rewarded, or certainly at least that they are not punished and undercut, by those with a less scrupulous approach who will cut costs at the disadvantage of the environment in order simply to sell product. So that responsibility is in relation to the footprint. But also of course we have specific sectors where there are particular climate challenges or critical issues in energy, in transport, in construction, and of course in agriculture, where all of them are finding difficult to meet sustainability goals. And we know that digital solutions have the potential to cut about 15% of total emissions by 2030. And one of the things that we’re doing in the European Union, including I have a team for example working on Internet of Things in application sectors, and it is our responsibility to mainstream the work on green by design, on the digital requirements in order to ensure that any solution in those sectors is itself contributing to our objectives, but more importantly is driving for example energy efficiency in transport, in logistics, and so on. We have last year issued the digitalization of energy system action plan, which is working with our colleagues working on energy policy and energy technologies, just to set out a set of actions with regard to decarbonizing the energy network, making the energy network much more efficient by using digital technology, by incorporating things such as the electrical vehicle infrastructure so that the batteries in the vehicles become part of the energy grid, so that there is intelligent charging and reuse of the energy that is downloaded. Also, it works on grid optimization, predictive energy production, and so on. Of course, even there, we have to be realistic that not all digitalization efforts have a positive impact, and we have to see to it that we are aware of the impact and that we’re delivering positive impact by measuring the impact of ICTs and the net value that they provide in terms of our decarbonization goals. To do that, we have also launched another initiative, which is the European Green Digital Coalition. When I say launched, we sponsored it in part, but it comes from the voluntary action and now independent existence of this network of 40 companies who have committed to making their companies individually best in class with regards to digital efforts, decarbonization, and also contributing to the digitalization of energy-consuming sectors. So the European Green Digital Coalition, which is led by JESI, as well as ETNO, Digital Europe, Digital SME Alliance, and GSMA, so a lot of actors who are known in their own right in Europe are all working together on this, and we’re looking forward to having more progress as they also recruit further companies, but also that they work closely with other actors, particularly in civil society and academia. the scientific and academic community, so the stakeholders that we’re always gathering here in the IGF, in order to ensure that the science is right, that there is independent aid but also audit and verification by those communities with regards to how concrete is the contribution of industry and what are the societal requirements, what could be some of the negative consequences if we do not analyze and tailor make the efforts that we’re making. For example, it is easy to say to everybody that they must buy the latest, most energy efficient piece of consumer equipment, but that is not a proposition for many, many persons in society. There have to be other steps that have to be taken as well, so this is why the rounded view, even though as you’ve heard me say we’re putting a lot of pressure and emphasis on the role of industry, the rounded view of these efforts, particularly in the context of the DFI, needs that stakeholder involvement. All sectors of society need to play a role so that we get it right, and if we do that, then we have a formula for having the twin transition, that’s the digital and green transitions, deliver benefits to all of the aspects of sustainability, economic sustainability, but of course social sustainability as well, naturally, as environmental sustainability, and that’s something that’s underlined in our digital decade policy program, and also actually in our declaration of digital rights and principles, where once again environmental considerations need to be put to the center of our policy work. And finally, just let me come back to the point about digital transition, how it realizes its full potential, it’s not just about supporting the green transition, but how about the green transition can support digitalization targets, so for example the move to renewable energy, and how we make that digital, but then help it to actually give positive outcome for digital technologies is it’s a bit of a conundrum but it is nevertheless one which we know can give great benefits. Better integrated digitalization in the environmental and climate policies will also bear fruit and the provision of green digital solutions in climate critical sectors such as those that I’ve mentioned will actually be a way also of having a positive impact on the environment for those more vulnerable geographies and societies who otherwise have or will suffer disproportionately from global warming. Thank you. Great, thank you very much Piers. I think you’ve highlighted a lot of

Patryk Pawlak:
interesting points but I think what I really liked is this focus on grid by design that the EU is pursuing as well that exactly is part of the solution but also stressing the importance of this almost whole of society approach if you want to thinking about how on one hand technology indeed is a problem that we have to address but at the same time part of the solution that we have to discuss and I know that speakers both online and here in the room are going to talk about that. Speaking of our speakers online let me turn to two of them who are joining us and I’d like to ask both Sarah Workley and Michelle Thorne the same question. What are some of the key challenges but also opportunities in reconciling growth and digital economy and green digital transition that you see from the perspective of your organizations and which ones do you consider the priority? Following up on what Piers said about the multi-stakeholder community engagement how can this community foster open transparent and inclusive dialogue between different groups to identify good practices, but also some innovative solutions to address this problem. And maybe we could start with Sarah, please.

Sarah Walkley:
Thanks, Patrick. So yeah, I work with a number of small and medium-sized businesses, advising them. And my experience is that the impact of digital technology is really poorly understood within that group. Relative to other sources of emissions, our footprint is quite small, but it’s one of the areas where emissions are growing quite intensively due to how much data we’re storing and our use of some of these models. My background before going freelance was in print publishing, and within that area, the minute we had got rid of our print books, magazines, and so on, there was an expectation that that was job done for the organization in terms of sustainability, because we’d got rid of the physical product. And so it’s that sort of lack of the intangible nature of a lot of the digital services that means that businesses struggle to see the impact of their digital habits on the environment. And equally, because at the individual level, those impacts could be quite small. Email, collectively, is estimated to account for 0.3% of global emissions, but each individual email is a gram or two, and also those impacts, the collective impact happens upstream in the data services and the energy that that’s used. And so it’s kind of. and from a business perspective, it feels really quite remote from day-to-day operations. And so many of the SMEs I speak to say they don’t, because their employees work remotely and everything they do is online, they don’t really need to have a sustainability strategy. So my point of view, there’s a significant need for education, especially to help businesses think about the energy, who they choose as their hosting providers and looking at what energy they have, perhaps how they code their products to make them smaller and more efficiently, to use more efficient code. And I’m a great believer in looking at co-benefits. And so perhaps how we use policies in other areas to leverage what good sustainable practice. So encouraging marketers to clear up the data that they’ve stored, which is good practice from a GDPR perspective, also helps reduce the amount of data we store and the energy we’re using. And so thinking about how we can leverage some of those existing policies and connect issues in people’s mind.

Patryk Pawlak:
Great, thank you. Ezra, your thoughts, please. One, your intervention triggered one of the thoughts I had at some point, how we got used right now to including this disclaimer in the emails. Think if you really have to print this email, as something that probably might be a good practice is also think if you have to respond to this email to reduce the effort. And I’m sure a lot of people in the room would also appreciate the practical aspect of it, where if we didn’t really have to respond or see that many of them in our mailboxes. Michelle, over to you with the same question. Some of the good practices, challenges you see, but also how… cooperation between different stakeholder groups can be part of the solution. Yeah, thank you so much, Patrick, for convening this panel. It’s a pleasure to be here with you all virtually at the IGF.

Michelle Thorne:
Yeah, at the GreenWeb Foundation, one of the focuses we have is talking about how the majority of Internet infrastructure is actually powered by fossil fuels, and one of the things we need to do to focus on transitioning those infrastructures off of fossil fuels. It’s been mentioned by the earlier speakers, we see the electricity demands for general computing rising, but especially for AI, and as we talk about these twin transitions, we actually aren’t talking in a more detailed way about how those energy demands will be matched in a sustainable way as we increase that digitization, and also in these conversations to expand beyond just talking about the carbon impacts, but there’s land and water usage, noise pollution, strains on the critical raw materials. These are really holistic and multifaceted systems that we’re talking about, and so one of the, I guess, points to stress or opportunities here is how can we actually have a data-informed conversation about where and how these Internet infrastructures are built and where they’re placed and where they’re maintained. Right now, we talked about where are the civil society actors and where are the impacted communities when something like a data center is being built. We’ve seen, at least in the European context, but also in the South American context and other places, communities pushing back and saying, you’re building a data center in our community that’s, for example, running on 100% renewables, as an example from a Dutch community recently, and now that this huge data center is being built, our community has to shift to relying on fossil fuels. These kinds of conversations aren’t happening in a way that is allowing the communities to be fully empowered in the decision of how those infrastructures are being deployed and built and who’s getting prioritized in terms of resources. So there’s also a democratic, a question of democratic involvement. Where I see policymakers having a role to play is in actually helping to be, to create the data, the public evidence base, so that these data informed conversations can happen. That includes, for example, more transparency and accountability on reporting of environmental impacts, digital technologies, especially around scope three emissions. We know this has been an issue, long identified, but still lacking in follow through to really talk about the digital supply chain and to make credible reporting around that. We also really need to see a more credible net zero targets from tech companies. If we look at the companies who are majorly responsible for infrastructure and digital services, most of them don’t have interim or credible interim net zero targets. And many of them actually are performing worse than fossil fuel companies in terms of transparency. So this is a place, again, where if we’re talking about the powers of digitization and the positive impacts we want to digitization, we also need to see those net zero targets published and being committed to and followed through. And also then speaking again at a policy level, again, we’re based in the EU, so have maybe more, a stronger lens in the EU context. But recently the EU had the energy efficiency directive. And instead of holding on to wins that we had around reporting, for example, of data centers that are using electricity roughly this at the level of 300 households, there was lobbying and the threshold was changed. So that data centers that are working at the level of 15,000 households have to start reporting. So why are we having this shift when we’re saying we need actually more information on both the energy consumption of the digital sector, but then saying we actually don’t need to be reporting on data centers that still are using quite significant resources. So this is again, a part of that holistic conversation. we need to have, we need to have the information around what are those impacts, who’s being held to account and who’s at the table deciding where and how those resources are being allocated.

Patryk Pawlak:
So, go ahead. Thanks, Michelle. We might come back to some of these points. You talked a lot about accountability and transparency. I also wonder to what extent these issues, for instance, when there is such an impact on local communities becomes an issue for local, regional, national elections, for instance, maybe something we want to come back to later on. Let me bring the conversation back to the room. I’ll switch to you, Nadia, right now, if you don’t mind. I mean, youth, we know, has a particular stake in this conversation, both as a user of digital technologies, but also, frankly, the part of our societies that really have to deal with the consequences of the policy decisions that are taken today. So, both really as the target of the policies, but also the consumer of the digital technologies. From your perspective, how can the governments and the private sector or youth organisations work better together with youth organisations as well, like your own? And what are some of the actions that you would recommend your peers can take to also reduce the digital footprint on the environment?

Nadia Owusu:
All right, thanks so much, Patrick, for the opportunity. My name is Nadia Ousu, I’m from Ghana. For me, I would like to talk about governments and private sectors, especially private sectors that are more interested in, away from greenwashing, but actually participating in ensuring there’s more sustainability, how they can work with young people, especially young people from the continent, especially Africa, where we’re at the brunt and facing climate change every day. We feel that if governments, private sectors, and civil societies and youth organisations So, I think it’s important that we have a multistakeholder consultation. I think that’s a very important thing. I think it’s very important that young people, young people organizations come together and see young people, not as just a stakeholder but also as partners. They can take on our concerns and work better with us in this few approaches I’m about to mention. I think Piers mentioned multistakeholder consultation. I think that is very important, but we need more engagement for young people. I think this deal isn’t reliable for young people. It’s not true, but, at the same time, in the year of 2020, 2022, 75 per cent of people online are young people, between the ages of 15-21. If we have this much volume of young people online, we need to be part of engagement and consult tations and these have to happen at different levels, from regional levels to local levels, to international levels where each country has a different level of engagement. We need to be part of this. We need to be part of this, and, just like I mentioned, we need to appoint young representatives, advisers to government committees, to boards, to industries, and associations that can ensure that young people’s perspectives are integrated in decision-making. I also want to mention the fact that Sarah talked about education. How many people know about the DFI? How many people know the signatories? How many people know about the DFI? How many people know about the DFI? We need to have more education, we need more awareness creation, and we need to implement educational programmes that raise awareness on the importance of a free digital ecosystem which is also sustainable for young people to thrive effectively. I also want to talk about the fact that the government should support innovations for young people. Young people are creative, young people are innovative, young people, and we need to build onwards to solve this problem. We also need to look at the ways in which the government and private stakeholders can and climate action, specifically on renewable and circular economies and energies. We can also push for more digital skills development for young people, especially on the continent, by providing grants, mentorship, resources, to encourage more young people to start their own businesses to drive innovations at different levels. When we’re talking about digital technologies, it also affects climate change, and we want to push for more climate and sustainable ways young people can do this by addressing environmental concerns by involving young people in decisions and initiatives related to climate change and sustainability. I would also want to talk about the fact that collaboration is very key. We should push for more collaboration between governments, private stakeholders, and also youth-led initiatives to tackle challenges and create opportunities for young people to thrive effectively. But we cannot ask for putting young people on the table, giving young people opportunities, creation of awareness, without talking about mechanisms to monitor the progress of these things I think it’s important that we establish mechanisms for feedback evaluations to assess the effectiveness of policies that relate to young people when it comes to the DFI and also digital technologies aimed at addressing young people’s concerns. These would make positive adjustments based on feedback. We need to have proper ways of collection of data that are reflective of the needs of young people, especially when it comes to the digital economy. The last thing I would want to talk about too is sustainable long-term perspectives. We have discussions, we have conversations, we want youth perspective, we want youth insights, but how sustainable would these be for the long term? How would these policies and investments benefit future generations considering the impacts of young people’s lives and their potentials to contributions to the society? In terms of what young people can do to reduce their digital footprint, I think we mentioned a few, like the emails, having people not to print, but I think what’s more integral is for young people to know that they can. They can advocate for green tech, they can push for and encourage tech companies and policy makers to adopt eco-friendly practices and invest in renewable energy sources. They can also, you know, participate in e-waste recycling, recycling their electronics by responsibly recycling old electronics rather than throwing them away in trash. These also go a way to, you know, pollute the environment and add up to more of the greenhouse gases. They should also use energy-efficient devices. They should choose to push for more sustainable and energy-efficient laptops, smartphones and other devices. The point is about the energy-star rated products and also sustainable softwares and also push for education and awareness for their peers. But the simple things people can do on a day-to-day basis is simple, by using public Wi-Fi and rather using their own internet by turning off unused devices while charging them. They can unplug chargers. They can also participate in their digital clean-up, erasing of emails, cleaning their junk, deleting unnecessary files they have on their devices which would add up to all of these things. They can also think of limiting their streaming time because the more they stream videos and online content, the more amount of energy and bandwidth they use. So they should rather push for downloading things offline and watching them rather than streaming. They should also practice digital minimalism which is by using your online presence and reducing online presence, deleting unused accounts. People have up to three to four accounts, but if we practice more digital minimalism, we can have a reduced digital presence for people. And I would like to also mention the fact that if each and every day we take these little conscious steps to reduce our digital footprint, we get a more sustainable environment, a more sustainable future, a more sustainable environment where everybody can live cohesively and push for a more digital space. So thank you so much, Patryk.

Patryk Pawlak:
Great, thank you. You put a lot of habit-changing issues on the table that we can potentially all adopt. And I want to maybe come back, if we have time for the discussion, to both Sarah and Michel, to discuss with you to what extent you see the impact of those changed habits on the bigger picture. And you also brought to the conversation another aspect. We talked a bit about industrial policy and the regulation, what can be done. I think it’s pretty clear as well that we have to look at other policy areas, like education, for instance, or consumer policies that sort of impact those practices at the large scale. Speaking about the governments as well and how they can engage younger generations, Ambassador, you have had multiple roles. You looked at the topic as an academic, as a government representative. And now you actually have a chance to impact how the policies are made, including those of the European Union. And I wonder from your perspective, A, how do you think the governments can actually work with other stakeholder groups, how you have tried to do this as a government official in Kenya. But also, what do you see some of the key challenges? Nadia mentioned Africa, which is the continent that’s very much impacted by the climate change. To what extent this has been one of the dimensions in your thinking about how the ecosystem or the policies of the Kenyan ICT are shaped?

Bitange Ndemo:
Thank you. I think much has been said. But what I want to add is that what should government be doing and taking advantage of the position in which Africa is in at the moment. We have a lot of sunshine. And we have a lot of geothermal deposits. We have a lot of rivers which are huge to produce green energy. We need to leverage that. Kenya itself had a strategy for green energy even before we started to discuss this. So much of our energy comes from geothermal and wind, and also from hydro, where 94% actually of our energy is green. But that doesn’t stop us from changing behavior like my sister was talking about here. COVID taught us that we can do a lot online. We’ve been doing conferences. We’ve been teaching online. Less travel means we have removed a few carbons out of the space. If governments have proper strategies to take advantage of that which can be done to reduce carbon emissions, let it be done. I know, for example, we did a document for the government recently. There are places where, if we begin farming there, what happens there is carbon sequestration. I mean, new method, generative agriculture, which would remove more carbon from the air. That’s what I mean that government strategies could do more and involve young people in every aspect of it. In terms of what everybody has said, education is very key to create awareness, even though sometimes people don’t. I think… I think that will do. Thank you. Great. Thank you.

Patryk Pawlak:
I remember I met one of your colleagues from Kenya a few years ago when we had the discussion about, she works on cyber security, so we had a broader discussion about cyber. But there was one very interesting example that she has mentioned. Using the EU’s reference to human-centric approach, she said, why do we talk about human-centric approach and not life-centric approach, for instance, when we talk about the investment in the infrastructure? She gave this very interesting example of how, for instance, sequencing of policies, if it’s better coordinated and implementation of different projects, can actually have a very positive impact. And gave the example of the road that has been built that, of course, caused certain environmental damage in the communities. But then that road had to be destroyed in order to put the fiber optic cables. And she said, we basically had to do this destruction twice. And by coordinating policies, we could have avoided some of this. So I think there are some interesting lessons to be learned there. But let me move now to one of our speakers online, Alexia, who works for OECD. And Alexia, I would like to hear your thoughts on what strategies and frameworks can be also implemented to ensure that the deployment of digital technologies is supporting this objective of green digital transition, takes the environmental considerations on board. It’s a topic that is very often presented as a new one. But you and I, as we’ve discussed, it’s definitely not something that is new in the policy discussions, including at the OECD. So I would like to hear your thoughts on where you see the state of the conversations right now, and what some of the lessons, maybe, or observations that have been already made in the past could be useful for the discussions that we’re having today. Alexia, over to you.

Alexia Gonzalez Fanfalone:
Thank you very much. Patrick. Everybody hears me okay? Yes? Yes. Okay. So thank you very much. When we talk about the twin transitions, so we’re talking about what is the role of digital technologies and the enabling infrastructure to leverage the opportunities to achieve these green or environmental sustainable goals. And here’s some key questions is one in this intersection of technology, both the development and the diffusion and policy and our environment. How do we measure the impact of digital and green? And this is important because only what can be measured can be improved. And at the moment there is a lack of harmonization on this metrics. Also at the private where the ESG reporting and at the public level. And also in this road, what are the main policy considerations for a coherent whole of government and multi-stakeholder approach? We heard the importance about a multi-stakeholder approach. If we look at OECD countries and we look at communication regulators, for example, half of them have partial mandates on environment sustainability of communication networks, but only a fifth have a direct mandate, which means that really leveraging digital technologies for environment sustainability goals requires a whole of government approach and a multi-stakeholder approach. We know as well, as was mentioned by our predecessors is how digital technologies themselves have an environmental footprint all across their life cycle. And so this is also important to harness. So why is this conversation as Patrick said, not entirely new. So let’s look at the road behind to see what is the road ahead. And at the OECD, this intersection of digital and green was first explored in the work leading to the OECD recommendation of ICTs on the environment. This recommendations council recommendation of 2010, and it had several principles that we’re currently reviewing the relevance and see if we have to update it. but one of them is coordinating ICTs for climate and environment and energy policies. And here it recommends to look both at the direct effects of ICTs, the enabling effects in other sectors, and third, the systemic effects that require social change and cultural behavior change that was rightfully mentioned. So here we see that these three effects can be mapped, for example, on the scope one, scope two, scope three of the greenhouse gas protocols. Now, we also seen that we have a council recommendation on broadband connectivity that was from 2004, renewed in 2021, and it urges stakeholders to minimize the negative effects of communication networks in the environment, also promoting smart networks and devices. And I will just pause here a little bit with some nuggets of information of connectivity, which is the underlining foundational pillar of digital transformation and how it can be leveraged to achieve these green objectives. We’ve seen in recent years a boost for fiber deployment in many OECD countries, and this transition to fibers is seen by some stakeholders as also achieving environment sustainability goals as it’s more energy efficient than copper alternatives. We’ve seen also the increase of AI systems to, for example, optimize energy management of communication networks. We’ve seen talks about the standardization and the development of 6G where key values such as environmental sustainability are being embedded. But when we talk about AI and here the OECD did the first standard on AI principles in 2019, there’s a clear focus on the importance of the environmental sustainability of it. And the presentation note that you provided, Patrick, said of the positive effects of AI, we have a dedicated expert. group on AI compute and climate, looking at both negative and positive effects. And particularly when we talk about the negative effects and data center consumption on all that, the conversation requires a bit more nuance because there’s a difference between the training of AI models and the inference of these models. So precise measurement on this particular aspect requires a lot more legwork going ahead. So if I would say some key messages that might are important to remember is also the enabling effects of ICTs on other sectors of the economy. It was mentioned both by peers and others of the impact of IoT, green by design, and having this, for example, for smart agriculture, precision agriculture, for reducing congestion in cities, and for energy grid use. I have a little data point that I would like to share with you on data centers and energy. So we have the International Energy Agency, IEA. And the IEA esteems that at least half of the global reductions on CO2 emissions required for a net zero scenario by 2050 rely on clean energy technology developments that are still in their prototype phase. So there’s an importance of innovation, but there’s also an importance of technology diffusion. And when we look at digital, so there is a rising demand of digital services over the past decade. For example, since 2010 to 2020, the number of internet users doubled, and global internet traffic expanded 15-fold. But there have also been rapid advances in energy efficiencies thanks to digitalization. And we’ve seen that it would be data centers and data transmission networks during that same period have been relatively stable at 1% of global electricity use. So this really. it’s important to realize that innovation, we have to really push for that and also how digitalization can be leveraged for green objectives, but it requires technological diffusion. Now, finally, I’ll leave you with three key messages that one, common measurement standards are required and we need more data collection to track the environmental impacts of digital technologies, both the direct and the enabling effects and of course, the systemic ones

Patryk Pawlak:
that require behavioral use.

Alexia Gonzalez Fanfalone:
Secondly, we need to go beyond energy and resource efficiency to talk about systemic effects, go beyond greenhouse gas emissions because there are other several planetary boundaries that are in danger such as biodiversity, ocean acidification, biochemical flows, air pollution. And third, efforts towards environmental equity and transparency are needed for inclusive growth and development and this could be enabled notably by harnessing digital for green, but we should remember that while green transition has a clear focus and determination, the digital transition is not deterministic, it needs to be directed in a positive way for society and the environment and that’s where the human-centric approach recovers a lot of relevance.

Patryk Pawlak:
Great, thank you very much, Alexia. I think you also have touched upon an interesting point that we have discussed yesterday, not only in relation to green, but the whole DFI in general. When we talked about which of the principles of the DFI could be prioritized, the issue of connectivity seemed like one where a lot of governments actually were paying attention and there’s a very clear connection with your intervention where exactly thinking about connectivity in the context of the principle about the grid transition, but also others in the DFI, we may create this interlinkages between. different principles and potentially use them to enable each other, so that’s a great point as well. In general, listening to the discussions, I feel like I’m very happy that this is also being recorded and I’ll have a chance to re-watch it afterwards, because there is a lot of data coming from all the speakers that I did not manage to note myself, and I’m sure that people in the room and online are in a similar situation. So thank you IGF again for recording the sessions, which will give us the opportunity to review this. I’d like to go to our final speaker online, Jari Kar, who is at the Teletechnical University in Munich, but originally from Costa Rica, and who I know has done some work on new technologies, especially use of AI systems and so on, and I was wondering, Jari, if you could tell us how exactly new technologies could be used to address some of the impacts that the digital transition might have on climate and environment more broadly. So Jari, over to you for your thoughts. Hello everyone, I hope you can hear me. Thank you very much for the invitation in this session, I’m very happy to be here. Well, as a digital youth, I’m from the International Telecommunication Union, ITU.

Yawri Carr:
Today I want to share with you the transformative role that artificial intelligence can play in shaping a sustainable future and importantly, how our youth can also actively engage in this mission. Well, adding to what already Nadia mentioned. So let’s begin by exploring some remarkable AI applications that are catalyzing positive change in this fight against climate change, and that we’re also part of the AI for Good Summit from the ITU in last July. So, from AI-driven climate prediction and disaster response to optimizing green energy and revolutionizing agriculture, there are innovations reshaping our world. approach to sustainability. They offer us the tools to monitor and protect our environment in ways we could only dream some years ago. For example, there are now technologies that are being developed, for example, using AI to make cities safe, clean and sustainable, developing AI tools capable of providing information on where, when and what disaster or climate change event may occur in the future, facilitating acting before the disaster happens, something that before could not be done. And this helps mitigate or even avoid a negative environmental impact that the event will have on the area. Also taking into consideration that some regions in the world, for example, in Latin America, are very impacted because of disasters and that people are normally not well prepared or that are maybe living in a difficult or risky area, so this is also very important for that. Another platform, for example, uses machine learning algorithms based on more than 7 billion lines of weather and ground truth data and this could help preventing fires, for example, so they predict where wildfires could be emerging and they also, for example, have been detecting this in risk areas. And also the prediction of deforestation and this could be done using satellite imagery that makes possible to analyze the potential of deforestation based on information such as the distance to water resources, cities and other key factories. So these AI applications are not just technological marvels, they represent now a frontier of possibilities and they showcase how cooperation between technology and environmental stewardship can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future. I consider that also empowering youth with knowledge and also the population in general is very important. Adding to what Nadia said, I consider that it’s clear that education is our first line of defense as well. We must keep our youth with the knowledge and skills needed to understand hardness and further develop the technologies in a responsible way. I consider that informatics and AI education should be seamlessly integrated into school curricula, but also open education and open science, as well as online platforms that offer accessible resources for learning about AI and sustainability should be available for everyone. Workshops and awareness programs can bridge the knowledge gap, fostering a generation that not only understand the technology, but is also inspired to leverage for positive change. Along with the education, I also consider youth-led innovation could also be a very important option because knowledge is not enough in today’s society. We must also empower youth to be innovators, problem solvers, and also architects of change. Imagine the impact of global hackathons and innovation challenges that bring young minds together to tackle environmental challenges. Think about also the potential of youth-led technology hubs where ideas are transformed into tangible solutions, and also mentorship programs that are organized by experts with much more experience or that have expertise in different areas of science, that could also contribute to these youth to move forward with their innovations and also with their spirit of innovation, and also creating a fertile ground for sustainable ideas to blossom. Also, remembering. that this kind of educational innovation should also come into regions and areas that are normally historically discriminated, such as populations of African descended, indigenous, or a populations that have a difficult access to resources. So thank you very much.

Patryk Pawlak:
Great, thank you very much. We have about five minutes left. I would like to check if anybody in the room would like to intervene, make a comment on what you have heard, or maybe show your perspectives in the discussion. Oh, there are reactions. Great. So we have two reactions. If you don’t mind, online, I’m going to take these two comments from the room and then maybe go to those speakers who are interested for 30 seconds of final thoughts. We go over to you first.

Audience:
Hi, everyone. I am Denise Leal from Brazil. So it’s a Latin America perspective that I bring to the table. It was very interesting hearing all of you and what you’ve highlighted very important aspects and points on the green digital era. Michelle has spoken about transparency and the reports, and I think that this is a very important point on the theme. And I also have noted here about when Alexia told about biodiversity, it really interested me. But, and I kept thinking, we are speaking about how the technology and internet can help to keep the green era, like the environmental safe, but also I was thinking, and when we have legal disputes on digital and internet and technology and also the environment, can the environment be seen as a the right holder, and in your countries, are there legal disputes on the team, and how do they end? Because I am with a group making a research in Brasília University, and we have studied about these legal disputes, and they usually don’t end well. We have the laws and the regulations, and the reality is it’s really beautiful, the environment is protected, but when it comes to the decisions made on the legal disputes, actually, not always we can see protection for the environment, in not only in Brazil, but also international disputes, we can see that, so I wanted to hear from you, how do you see this point, and if you have, I studied it any time, that’s it, thank you.

Patryk Pawlak:
Great, thank you, great question, over to you, and then I know also Michelle online has a very targeted question for peers, so we’ll go to you, Michelle, as well, please, here.

Audience:
Thank you, my name is Bushri Badi, and I had a few questions that are all interrelated to each other, so I think various speakers spoke about decarbonization and carbon sequestration as some of the measures that we are using to mitigate climate change, and especially in the technology area, but I also then question maybe the general frameworks or the policies, especially in the European context, whether it’s the commission or the councils are advancing that really emphasize achieving carbon neutrality within a certain timeframe, not being realistic, or in cohesion with the IPCC findings, especially with how rapidly we’re seeing climate change affect different communities, and then using those measures that actually maybe hide some of the wider impacts, like when we talk about the entire life cycle approach, well, the extraction of. natural resources that are happening in different contexts with human rights violations, are those being considered in the carbon footprinting measures or the benchmarking that’s happening? It feels like there’s a lot of, let’s export some of our impacts to other areas or regions of the world in the same way that our technologies are being exported that have these negative implications. And I think the other question that I have that’s connected to this is the assumption that we have that the collection of data is needed and is actually necessary for these sustainable transitions that we’re talking about, when in fact, now data centers surpass the entire airline industry in terms of CO2 emissions. We’ve been pushing a lot for big data policies across, I mean, the European context, but around the world. And most of the data that’s collected isn’t being used, can’t actually be analyzed. And so I think that assumption needs to be challenged. Like, why are we collecting this data in the first place when it is having tangible negative environmental impacts, but also societal impacts? So for already marginalized communities, including migrants and forcibly displaced persons, that data is being used to prevent them from seeking asylum in the European context, for example, but also across the Americas and around the world. So just, I wanted to get a sense of how you’re trying to find some cohesion between some of these policies that don’t seem to actually be rooted in the evidence, and then this need to collect more evidence to do what’s already known to be the best practice in these cases, kind of like pushing the thing down the road when in reality we could be addressing these issues today. Great, thank you.

Patryk Pawlak:
I’m being told that we have to end. Michelle, if your question can be formed in 30 seconds, so that then I also give Piers 30 seconds to answer and the ambassador to react, that would be great. We have apologies to the organizers for stealing two minutes. Michelle, over to you.

Michelle Thorne:
So I’m wondering how digital innovation can be done so that it doesn’t further consolidate the market power of existing companies, but it’s creating economic… opportunity for and benefits of the most impacted people in areas, so we don’t have a brittle monoculture online but rather a diverse and open ecosystem. Great, perfect, thank you. That was less

Patryk Pawlak:
than 30 seconds, much appreciated. Ambassador, I’ll start with you for 30 seconds, final thoughts,

Bitange Ndemo:
and then I’ll go here on the table whoever would like to take the floor. I would have taken much longer to talk about the sequestration of capon. This came from the side of IT in some sections of Kenya and by use of trying to do precision farming and found that we could actually sequestrate capon and contribute heavily into this. I don’t know whether that’s sufficient or I need to continue or we can follow up. You can discuss this over coffee. There’s this very

Patryk Pawlak:
important question about does the environment have the rights, which I think we will also have to take offline unfortunately. Nadia, do you have in the direction 30 seconds? Sure, I really wanted to

Nadia Owusu:
say that I totally agree with everything the panel said, especially those online when it comes to youth involvement in this entire conversation on digitalization and green economy, so I want to say after this conversation, we have to keep it going. There are more conversations at the UNFCCC climate change conference that is at COP28 in Dubai. We can have such conversations, so I’m saying we carry these conversations away from IGF to climate change conferences where we have more stakeholders in the climate change networks. Thank you. Well, I was going to make a comment,

Pearse O’Donohue:
but I won’t. I’ll just make an observation and say I learned a lesson. Patrick, you spoke about we got a lot of data. We’ll have to review the video. One point I’ll make is that we also got a very strong theme running through about data in this session. Michel on the role of government and collecting data, but also on credible data. Nadia. particularly from a youth perspective, and Alexia all again about measurement, the measurement point about data. That’s a critical lesson for us. We are doing some work on data collection, maybe not enough, but because it comes up to my answer to the question that was put to me, I would just say that on green data centres particularly, we have done specific work while the Energy Efficiency Directive has set a target for climate-neutral data centres by 2030. We are working already with our joint research centre and industry to make sure that the measurement is credible, it has to be independent, and there have to be more detailed models. It’s not just gross power consumption, it’s gross and net water consumption, etc. But I’m going to skip the rest of what I’m going to say about that point, because I want to ask the question by Michel. I’m going to interpret your question to mean developments in digital with regard to green, because it’s an even wider question. The first blunt response is, well, of course, we’re going to aim for our target, which is to ensure that ICT moves towards carbon neutrality and contributes to other sectors. So you could even say that goal overrides market positioning or dominance. But of course, where those technical solutions or even any regulatory support for that objective, if they were to give rise to bad outcomes, particularly with regard to dominance in society as much as in the market, well, that is something which in the European Union we have increasingly showed that we are willing to do, the Digital Market Act, the Digital Services Act, in order to break down monopolies or duopolies, in order to ensure the possibility to enter markets, and also to ensure that solutions involve SMEs and that we measure the impact of our work. And we should and will do the same, and it cycles back to my point about data. The data doesn’t just apply to the technology, it applies to the solutions and the implementation of those solutions to make sure that we have a sustainable market. that we are actually achieving our targets. Thank you.

Patryk Pawlak:
Great. Thank you very much, Pierce. Thank you very much to all the speakers online and here in the room. To all of you for joining us in the afternoon during the happy hour. So I really appreciate the effort you have made. And with apologies to the organizing team for stealing some of the time in your preparations. Thank you very much, everyone, and enjoy the rest of your evening.