Skip to main content

At COP29 in Baku, global leaders in technology and environmental policy signed a pivotal declaration on Saturday, emphasizing the dual role of digital technologies in addressing climate change while also tackling the emissions and waste associated with the tech sector.

The COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, endorsed by over 1,000 governments, corporations, and civil society organizations, marks a significant step toward harnessing digital tools for climate solutions.

Organized by the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as part of the first-ever ‘Digitalisation Day’ at a UN climate conference, the declaration focuses on optimizing the climate benefits of digital innovation while addressing its environmental footprint.

ITU underscored how technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and big data can transform energy efficiency, improve climate monitoring, and enhance early warning systems to safeguard communities.

However, the energy demands of digital technologies pose challenges. Data centers, integral to the digital infrastructure, consume vast amounts of electricity and water, with additional energy required to maintain optimal cooling. As the proliferation of AI and digital tools accelerates, so does the need for sustainable solutions within the tech industry.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, hailed the declaration as a milestone, urging collective action. “This milestone moment for Green Digital Action at COP29 should propel us forward with the shared belief that we can and must reduce the environmental footprint of digital technologies while leveraging their undeniable potential to tackle the climate crisis,” she said.

The declaration’s adoption is expected to build momentum ahead of COP30, with the aim of shaping a sustainable digital future that integrates innovation and environmental responsibility.

Article Source:
Press Release/Material by UN
Featured image credit: Freepik

5 deep changes urgently needed for a sustainable world and how to achieve them
Image: Tree ina field, Harmony, Nature
5 deep changes urgently needed for a sustainable world and how to achieve themNews

5 deep changes urgently needed for a sustainable world and how to achieve them

New 'Theory of Deep Change' says future depends on transforming fundamental assumptions, structures behind today’s global crises Google Web Story Amid deepening inequalities and escalating…
SourceSourceApril 12, 2025 Full article
Trees please me, but we also need biodiversity in our cities
Image: Rendering by S Bekessy in collaboration with C Horwill, J Ware & M Baracco, RMIT’s School of Architecture and Design
Trees please me, but we also need biodiversity in our citiesNews

Trees please me, but we also need biodiversity in our cities

By Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University in Melbourne Increasing the amount of nature in our cities can provide many benefits as long as it's done with biodiversity in…
SourceSourceMay 20, 2024 Full article
Deforestation in Brazil’s Cerrado higher than in Amazon: report
Deforestation in Brazil’s Cerrado higher than in Amazon: reportNews

Deforestation in Brazil’s Cerrado higher than in Amazon: report

Sao Paulo, Brazil | AFP - Deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado region, a vast tropical savanna renowned for its rich biodiversity, increased sharply in 2023 and…
SourceSourceMay 28, 2024 Full article