Over the past year, the EuroDIG community has been addressing information and communications technology (ICT) sustainability and the crucial role of the Internet governance community in ensuring that environmental sustainability is at the heart of ICTs throughout their lifecycle. We are at a critical junction given the urgency of the topic coupled with a policy and regulatory environment that recognises the need for more concerted action vis-a-vis digitisation and sustainability – from the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Agenda, to the post-COVID recovery plans and the Paris Climate Agreement.
One year later, what has been achieved in Europe? What are the most prominent challenges? What else must be done to support all stakeholders in their respective roles towards greening Internet governance and the ICT ecosystem more broadly? What concrete commitments, collaborations, and plans for action are underway to develop rights-based and sustainable technologies as well as to ensure that technology is put in the service of solving the climate crisis and promoting environmental justice?
This session builds on EuroDIG 2020 Plenary 4: Greening Internet Governance to review the process made since EuroDIG 2020 and examine concrete achievements and feasible action plans for a sustainable ICT environment in the future, particularly over the next decade in-line with the EU’s digital action plan and Green Deal strategies. It also constitutes the launch of the EuroDIG intersessional project, Greening Internet Governance, which will draw on the discussions had during this session to elaborate upon via concrete actions and recommendations over the coming period.