Session
Sustainability & Environment
Existing and New Technologies as Climate Risks
Existing and New Technologies as Climate Solutions
Organizer 1: Iarah Iarah Rosa da Silva , Sebrae
Organizer 2: Rosanna Fanni, 🔒
Organizer 3: Climate Youth Japan Seinen Kankyo NGO, Climate Youth Japan
Organizer 4: James Amattey, Norenson IT
Organizer 5: Levy Syanseke , Internet Society Zambia Chapter
Speaker 1: Climate Youth Japan Seinen Kankyo NGO, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: João Vitor Andrade, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: James Amattey, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 4: Denise Leal, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 5: Igor José Da Silva Araújo , Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Round Table - 60 Min
A.How can the internet and technologies collaborate to fight climate change? B.Which kind of policies about technology and the internet could collaborate on the theme of climate change? C.What are the negative impacts of technology in climate change?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain understanding of the work done by youth-led initiatives, and access to a report, available on the Climate Youth Japan website, that summarizes the discussions, case analyses, and recommendations presented during the session; which will serve as a reference for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners involved in the field of climate change and technology implementation. The session is expected to raise awareness about the importance of technology accountability for environmental cases, highlighting the treaties, challenges and best practices in the context of climate change. Making concrete recommendations to improve policies, and exploring innovative solutions are also objectives. It is expected to stimulate the engagement of youth leaders, policymakers and platforms. At the end we will invite participants to review our work and discuss our proposals, while the output of this session will be shared with governments, international and non-governmental organizations.
Description:
Technologies that we use to address climate change are known as climate technologies. Climate technologies that help us reduce GHGs include renewable energies such as wind energy, solar power and hydropower. To adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, we use climate technologies such as drought-resistant crops, early warning systems and sea walls. There are also ‘soft’ climate technologies, such as energy-efficient practices or training for using equipment (UNFCC). This session aims to delve into the role of technology in climate change. Researchers on Climate Change who are par of the Climate Youth Japan and of South America who are part of the Natural Resources Law and Sustainable Development Research Group are going to power the debates with lots of innovative information about climate change, internet, technology implementation and regulations. To set the context, the discussion will begin with the exploration of Addis Ababa Messages from IGF 2022 pertinent to Sustainability and Environment. Our young panelists, leading the change in their respective domains, will discuss the current state of regulation in their regions, and the instrumental role youth are playing towards progression, they will delve into the repercussions of Sustainability challenges on internet governance, and the role of technology in guaranteeing the right of future generations to an ecologically balanced environment. Our speakers will guide the session showing how the internet is the central pillar, in view of the complexity of the structure, being necessary the participation of technology companies, universities, search centers for development and regulation and international institutions as the United Nations, for a plan of evolution in the scenario of environmental protection and international cooperation.The result of the proposal is economic, social and educational transformation, and also improvement of quality of life worldwide.
Session Outcomes: A - Expanding the vision of the people present in relation to the role technology takes in climate change. B- Clarify what kind of technology and general investments it has to be made to reach the expected goals and understand what can come from this development scenario. Specific Outcomes: A- Report summarizing the session. It will be shared online with IGF participants and stakeholders in the platforms of GERN, Youth Climate Japan, and Youth LACIGF in 2024. B- Compilation of best practices and case studies that present successful initiatives and approaches to promote inclusion and equity in the use of technology in the environment. This resource will be disseminated through online platforms. C- Follow-up event to continue the dialogue and build on the discussions and utcomes of the session in partnership of GERN, Youth Climate Japan, and Youth LACIGF in 2024.
Hybrid Format: The session aims to facilitate a roundtable where participants will be part of the session itself. Tentative agenda: 5’: Introduction and background. The moderator explains how the session will take place and points out that attendees can ask questions by using the hand-raising option or in the chat (online), or by requesting the floor (onsite). 40’: The moderator introduces the policy issues and addresses the speakers with questions in a roundtable fashion. 10’: Open floor. The moderator invites all participants to take the floor either online or onsite. 5’: Key takeaways (rapporteur) and conclusions. The session is going to ensure interactions through a Q&A and comment section in the online application where the session will be taking place (e.g. Zoom). Both online and onsite moderators will make sure that the questions and comments are not overlooked through effective communication, but play an important role throughout the session
Report
The intersection of sustainability, digitalization, and climate change has become a crucial topic in today's global concerns. This report synthesizes the key points discussed by the speakers from the session. These experts provided insights into how the digital age can both exacerbate and alleviate climate challenges, and their recommendations to address this complex issue. The Key Takeaways of the session were:
- Digitalization and Its Environmental Impact: The speakers began by highlighting the growing significance of electric and autonomous mobility, emphasizing that digital technologies, especially electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous mobility, place significant demands on energy production and computational power. This shift creates new challenges, such as the allocation of electricity from the national grid to EV users and the need for updated policies to accommodate this transition.
- Insights into the European Union's strategy of a twin transition: Combining green and digital transformations were also shared. With emphasis on ambitious climate goals, such as a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. To align sustainability with digitalization, the speaker proposed enhanced transparency regarding the environmental impact of digital devices, promoting entrepreneurial thinking for sustainability, and embedding ecological sustainability into design processes.
- The importance of affordable and accessible technology solutions: There were concerns about the lack of necessary infrastructure to implement expensive technologies in many countries, as well as legal disputes and accountability related to environmental protection laws, emphasizing the need for effective enforcement and compliance mechanisms.
- AI in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation: In mitigation, AI can optimize electricity supply and demand by considering weather conditions and electricity usage patterns. For instance, building energy management systems using AI can significantly reduce energy consumption during peak times. AI also contributes to climate adaptation by enabling the development of early warning systems and improving climate forecasting. These technologies allow us to take early countermeasures and ensure a stable food supply.
- Negative Environmental Impacts of Technology: While technology offers solutions for climate change, it also presents environmental challenges, such as the energy consumption associated with electronic devices, data centers, and communication networks primarily powered by fossil fuels. The entire life cycle of electronic devices, from manufacturing to disposal, contributes to energy consumption and carbon emissions. Hazardous chemicals and e-waste pose environmental risks when not managed properly, especially in developing countries.
The discussions by various speakers highlighted the following unified actions: Ensure that digital technology contributes to sustainability goals and consider the environmental impact of digital devices; Invest in research and development to create green and energy-efficient technologies, especially for regions with increasing energy demands; Advocate for effective enforcement mechanisms and accountability in environmental protection laws globally; Encourage responsible consumption by extending the life cycle of electronic devices, reducing e-waste generation, and adopting sustainable practices in manufacturing; and Encourage collaboration between governments, businesses, research institutions, and individuals to harness the full potential of technology in combating climate change.
The global discussion on the intersection of sustainability, digitalization, and climate change is multi-faceted and addresses various challenges and opportunities, and needs more action from governments, civil society and the private sector. Through these unified calls to action, the digital age can be harnessed to mitigate climate change and transition toward a more sustainable future.