Declaration on green digital action launched at COP29 to curb the sector’s emissions

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on UN News or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: At COP29 in Baku, the first-ever Digitalisation Day highlighted how digital technologies and AI can support climate action while addressing their environmental impacts
• Over 1,000 stakeholders endorsed the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, aiming to accelerate climate efforts and tackle tech-related emissions and e-waste
• The initiative emphasizes balancing innovation with sustainability

🔭 The context: The declaration recognizes the role of technologies like AI and big data in climate monitoring, early warning systems, and emissions reduction
• Despite their benefits, digital tools demand significant energy and water, and data centers produce substantial greenhouse gases and require intensive cooling systems
• This dual challenge was a key focus during the event

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Harnessing digital solutions is vital for climate adaptation and mitigation, but curbing the environmental costs of the tech sector is equally critical
• Addressing the sector's emissions and waste footprint ensures a sustainable path forward while leveraging its potential to fight climate change

⏭️ What's next: Stakeholders aim to maintain momentum through COP30, focusing on sustainable digital innovation
• Continued collaboration will prioritize reducing emissions from tech production and operations while expanding climate-friendly applications of AI and digital tools

💬 One quote: “We can and must reduce the environmental footprint of digital technologies while leveraging their undeniable potential to tackle the climate crisis,” - Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General

📈 One stat: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5-10% by 2030, equivalent to the total annual emissions of the European Union

Click for more news covering the latest on green tech