To strengthen collaboration on sustainability within the digital technologies industry, a high-level opening session of Green Digital Action track was held as part of COP29 on 14 November.
The session was organized by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport (MDDT), COP29 Presidency and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for Digital Technologies.
“The Green Digital Action initiative is setting a powerful example of how the industry can lead the green transition and strengthen climate resilience,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “The Declaration on Green Digital Action, which will emerge from Digitalisation Day, shows us the way forward. What we need is climate-conscious digitalisation driven by purpose and shared responsibility, now”.
Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev stressed the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes sustainable infrastructure and environmental impact to fully exploit the potential of digitalization, which is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change: “We can achieve the speed, accuracy and flexibility needed to ensure a sustainable future only through digitalization”.
The discussions highlighted the role of technology in environmental solutions while stressing the need for emissions reductions in the tech sector.
The session continued with thematic discussions on digitalization and climate action,demonstrating successful cooperation and spotlighting key outcomes and progress updates of the multi-stakeholder Green Digital Action activities that took place throughout the year.
Speakers said that this session marked the start of a dynamic program highlighting the important role that digital solutions can play in addressing environmental challenges and building a sustainable future for all. Thus, the Green Digital Action track at COP29 is designed to encourage active participation, foster meaningful dialogue and spark innovative ideas for collaborative climate action.
It was noted that the series of discussions and workshops will focus on the importance of sustainability standards, the path towards a net-zero ICT sector, and leveraging artificial intelligence for climate action and early warning systems.
For your information, the Green Digital Action initiative is one of 14 global initiatives included in the COP29 Presidency’s Action Agenda. This initiative is not a single event, but a call to build sustainable momentum, ensuring that innovation and digitalization based on sustainable development will remain a priority in future COPs.
The final event of the initiative’s track during COP29, a high-level roundtable on Green Digital Action, will take place on 16 November, during the first ever Digitalization Day as part of COP29.
The event will bring together public and private sector representatives from a number of countries around the world, as well as the world’s leading ICT partners.
The roundtable will discuss a number of critical topics, including integrating digital innovation into climate strategies, improving climate monitoring with digital tools, promoting digital inclusion and reducing the environmental impact of digital technologies.
The roundtable is expected to result in the adoption of an outcome document, the Declaration on Green Digital Action, with the participation of all stakeholders for a sustainable and green world.
The Declaration on Green Digital Action is an important step towards promoting sustainable and inclusive practices, while recognizing the potential of digital technologies to combat climate change.
