Increasing digitalisation brings both a promise of sustainable improvement and crucial environmental and social challenges. On the 1 hand, artificial intelligence can support 134 of the 169 SDGs circumstantial objectives, optimising energy consumption, monitoring biodiversity and supporting circular economy. However, its improvement requires tremendous amounts of energy, and there are possible difficulties.
Digitalisation and sustainable improvement – challenges and opportunities
Report Digital Economy study 2024 emphasises that Digital technologies are liable for emissions from 1.5% to 3.2% of global greenhouse gasesand their production generates expanding consumption of natural materials and energy. The production of a standard laptop requires the consumption of nearly 1,000 kg of different materials, and global energy consumption by cryptocurrency is comparable to Argentina's yearly energy consumption. At the same time, targeted digitalisation can promote monitoring and environmental protection and optimise resource use.
The usage of AI in the circular economy allows Optimising recycling and efficient management of natural materialsand digital natural material tracking systems can importantly reduce waste. However, technological improvement is besides a hazard of expanding digital inequalities and occupation losses by automation, which requires liable regulation and cooperation between the public and private sectors. The ethical implementation of innovation, which will enable digitalisation to be utilized in a sustainable and environmentally beneficial way, is crucial.
By Action Plan for a Sustainable Planet in the Digital Age systemic changes are needed to make digital technologies a real support for the protection of the planet alternatively than an additional burden.
Every entrepreneur strives to optimise the consumption of natural materials, the production of competing products and the minimisation of energy, heat and water costs. In order to accomplish this, it is crucial to get and analyse applicable data that will indicate the possible for improvements in the production process. Digitalisation accompanies us at all turn – it is crucial to make full usage of its possible for green transformation, due to the fact that technology improvement should not only be cost-effective but besides in line with the values of sustainable development – comments Maria Andrzejewska, General manager of UNEP/GRID-Warsaw.
Cooperation key to success
UN and UNEP reports item the importance of global cooperation in technological policy and regulation. Sustainable manufacture laboratory 2025 will be a platform for exchanging experience and building strategical partnerships for a sustainable future for industry.
Sustainable manufacture laboratory 2025 conference under the motto "Integrated digital and environmental transformation: decarbonisation of cities and industry“ is simply a unique event dedicated to the challenges and capabilities of digitisation and its impact on the sustainable improvement of industry. Business leaders, technology and sustainable improvement experts and public sector representatives will meet 27 February 2025 at Copernicus discipline Centre in Warsaw to discuss key strategies for liable digital transformation.
The programme includes expert speeches, discussion panels and workshops (laboratories) on topics specified as:
Artificial intelligence for sustainable improvement
Financing of digital and environmental transformation
Data and their usage in sustainable management processes / ESG
Technological revolution – water, energy and heat management
Registration and full agenda of the event are available at: https://www.sustainableindustrylab.eu/en/
The event is organized by UNEP/GRID-Warsaw; the co-organiser is the City of Warsaw. The event was held by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Representation of the European Commission in Poland, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the Ministry of improvement and Technology and the Confederation of Leviathan.
1.United Nations, Digital Economy study 2024. Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital future, [accessed: https://unctad.org/publication/digital-economy-report-2024, 10.07.2024].
2.United Nations, Action Plan for a Sustainable Planet in the Digital Age, [accessed: https://unctad.org/publication/digital-economy-report-2024, 02.07.2022].
ON UNEP/GRID-Warsaw
Since 1991 UNEP/GRID-Warsaw has been implementing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) mission in Poland, working for sustainable development. It shall support appropriate environmental management and protection of biodiversity. It promotes work for the environment in society and in business. Specializes in the acquisition, processing and sharing of environmental information and the dissemination of applications of modern information technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite technologies. UNEP/GRID-Warsaw was established on September 17, 1991 by an agreement concluded between the UN Environment Programme and the Polish Government. It operates as 1 of respective Global Resource Information Database (GRID) centres created by UNEP to strengthen the effective management of environmental resources. It implements its activities in cooperation with national and abroad organisations and institutions. He is simply a partner of local, educational and corporate units implementing corporate social work policies. UNEP/GRID-Warsaw has NGO position and operates in the structure of the National Environmental Protection Foundation.
