Green Digital Action Summit 2025
The Green Digital Action Summit at GITEX Europe, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), will advance climate action through digital innovation, building on the COP29 Green Digital Action Declaration. The summit will address European and global green technology and policy priorities, including AI, green technical standards, and green digital infrastructure, aiming to shape the future of sustainable technology, especially in anticipation of COP30 in Brazil.
The Summit will explore the challenges and opportunities in green tech, policy development, and digital innovation that will help shape the future of our collective environmental stewardship. Join us as we come together to leverage digital solutions for a greener, more sustainable future.
Find more information, including confirmed speakers and register here.
Programme
10:30 – 10:40: Welcome Address by Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU
10:40 – 10:50: Keynote: The Double-Edged Sword by Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, resident of the German Environment Agency and CODES Chair
10:55 – 11:25: Role of Digital Policy and Regulation in Climate Action
• Mechanisms to ensure environmental considerations are integrated into digital technology deployment
• Enhancing interdisciplinary cooperation for sustainable innovation.
11:30-11:45: Fireside chat: Empowering a Sustainable Future: Harnessing Digital Infrastructure for Green Energy Advancements
• What are the challenges and opportunities in leveraging digital technologies to align national energy systems with renewable energy targets specified in NDCs?
• What policies and regulatory frameworks are necessary to support the integration of digital technologies in the pursuit of sustainable energy goals?
11:50 – 12:00: Keynote: AI & New Energy
• What are the challenges and opportunities?
12:05 – 12:25: Understanding the Surge: Energy Consumption by AI Systems
• What factors are contributing to the exponential increase in energy consumption by AI systems, and how does this trend compare with global energy use?
• What strategies and innovations are being developed to reduce the energy consumption of AI systems?
• How can the tech industry balance the benefits of AI with the need to conserve energy and protect the environment?
12:30 – 12:40: IEA Observatory on Energy and AI (tbc)
12:45 – 13:00: AI and Big Data in Service of a Just Energy Transition
13:00 – 13:30: Lunch Break
13:30 – 13:50: Green Digital Infrastructure Investment
• The current state of global green digital infrastructure investment
• Key challenges and opportunities for green digital investment
14:00 – 14:25: Targets, Transparency and Reporting: Moving the Digital Tech Sector Towards Net-Zero
• Ensuring the digital sector takes steps to reduce emissions
• The importance of measurable goals and transparent reporting
14:30 – 14:40: Green Digital Infrastructure Investment
• The current state of global green digital infrastructure investment
• Key challenges and opportunities for green digital investment
14:45 – 15:00: Aligning Digital Innovation with Environmental Standards
• Why standards are crucial for ensuring technology is a force for environmental good.
• The importance of metrics for the environmental impact of AI.
How companies gain a competitive edge by adopting green tech standards.
15:05 – 15:15: Fireside Chat: AI and Big Data in Service of a Sustainable Future
• How can AI and advanced digital tools address climate, health, and agricultural challenges simultaneously?
• What cross-sector collaboration is needed to leverage nuclear, nutritional, and environmental sciences for global resilience?
15:20 – 15:30: Fireside Chat: Empowering the Future – Green AI Skills for a Sustainable Workforce
• How can AI-driven digital skills empower a workforce supporting green energy innovation and sustainability?
• Which policy frameworks and investment strategies maximize AI’s potential while mitigating risks like job displacement?
15:35 – 15:55: The Road to COP30: Opportunities for the Tech Industry
Key achievements from COP29 and priorities for COP30
How technology stakeholders can further climate action in the lead-up to COP30
15:55 – 16:00: Closing Remarks