Good morning Listers,

Thank you to all who contributed to yesterday’s topic. The thread is still open for those who may have further thoughts on data.

Welcome to day 2 of our pre KIGF online discussions. Our topic today is on the environment which has been powerfully impacted by the internet and Information and communication technologies. They connect people, initiative and resources thus opening up avenues for collaboration. They also help monitor and track the environment facilitating understanding, prevention and more targeted interventions globally.

This track aims to understand the interdependences between the use of Internet and digital technologies to preserve the environment, but also to threaten its sustainability. It will consider how the positive impacts of ICTs for climate action can be enhanced while minimizing any negative impact. Let's talk about climate change, ICTs impact on the environment, leveraging artificial intelligence and big data etc, as we ponder on the below questions:

1.        How can existing and emerging digital technologies contribute to addressing climate change and how can they foster change in various sectors of the economy (manufacturing, trade, agrifood, etc.)? What initiatives exist and what can be done to improve them?

2.       What can be done to reduce the carbon footprint of ICTs (e.g. sustainable infrastructure, carbon-neutral data centres, efficient manufacturing, use and recycling of devices, etc.)? What lessons can be learned from various communities (e.g. indigenous peoples etc.) and existing initiatives?

3.       What role can data and AI play in tackling sustainability issues such as climate change, biodiversity, conservation and water scarcity?

4.      How could policy-making benefit from the analysis of big data to better understand impacts of policy decisions on sustainability?