Session
Organizer 1: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 1: Vanessa GRAY, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 2: Mellie La Roque , Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Sandrine ELMI HERSI, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Mellie La Roque , Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Sandrine ELMI HERSI, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: A Panel format fosters an inclusive, interactive, and multi-stakeholder discussion, making it ideal for this topic. The session will bring together experts, policymakers, industry representatives, and civil society members to explore different perspectives on digital sustainability. The format allows for a balanced exchange of ideas from different disciplines, ensuring a holistic discussion.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: A Panel format fosters an inclusive, interactive, and multi-stakeholder discussion, making it ideal for this topic. The session will bring together experts, policymakers, industry representatives, and civil society members to explore different perspectives on digital sustainability. The format allows for a balanced exchange of ideas from different disciplines, ensuring a holistic discussion.
Policy Question(s)
A. How can policymakers, businesses, and developers integrate eco-design principles into digital services to reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining innovation?
B. What levers and frameworks could help promote the adoption of eco-design practices in digital services, and more largely, to build a sustainable future to the Internet?
C. How can transparency and user awareness of the environmental impact of digital services be improved to encourage more sustainable consumption habits?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain valuable insights into the environmental impact of digital services and the role of eco-design in building a more sustainable digital ecosystem.
They will:
• Discover key data and trends on the energy and resource consumption of digital technologies, including AI and streaming services.
• Explore practical eco-design strategies that can reduce the environmental footprint of websites, platforms, and digital applications.
• Gain diverse perspectives from experts working at the intersection of digital innovation and sustainability.
• Learn about real-world examples of eco-design in action and how it can contribute to extending device lifespans and optimizing resource use.
• Leave with actionable knowledge and tools to integrate eco-design principles into their own digital projects, policymaking, or business strategies.
This session will be particularly valuable for policymakers, tech professionals, sustainability advocates, and anyone interested in ensuring digitalisation contributes positively to global environmental goals.
Description:
Digitalisation is transforming societies and contribute to the decarbonisation of multiple economic sectors. However, while digital services may seem intangible, they have a rapidly growing environmental footprint that must be addressed to align with global sustainability goals. The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) further exacerbates resource consumption, particularly through its high energy demands and reliance on critical raw materials. Eco-design principles offer a concrete solution to reconcile digital innovation with environmental responsibility. When applied to digital services—such as websites, platforms, AI, and video streaming—eco-design can extend the lifespan of digital devices, optimise resource consumption, and raise user awareness of their digital footprint. This session will present the latest data on the environmental impact of digital services and explore practical ways to integrate eco-design into digital development. By adopting these principles, stakeholders can contribute to a more sustainable and responsible digital ecosystem.
Digitalisation is transforming societies and contribute to the decarbonisation of multiple economic sectors. However, while digital services may seem intangible, they have a rapidly growing environmental footprint that must be addressed to align with global sustainability goals. The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) further exacerbates resource consumption, particularly through its high energy demands and reliance on critical raw materials. Eco-design principles offer a concrete solution to reconcile digital innovation with environmental responsibility. When applied to digital services—such as websites, platforms, AI, and video streaming—eco-design can extend the lifespan of digital devices, optimise resource consumption, and raise user awareness of their digital footprint. This session will present the latest data on the environmental impact of digital services and explore practical ways to integrate eco-design into digital development. By adopting these principles, stakeholders can contribute to a more sustainable and responsible digital ecosystem.
Expected Outcomes
This session aims to provide participants with a deeper understanding of the environmental impact of digital services and practical solutions for integrating ecodesign principles into digital platforms. The expected outcomes include:
• Increased awareness and knowledge sharing: Participants will leave with key insights into the environmental footprint of digital services, supported by the latest research and data.
• Practical takeaways: Stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society representatives, will gain concrete examples of how ecodesign principles can be implemented to create more sustainable digital products and services.
• Policy and industry recommendations: Discussions will contribute to the development of potential recommendations or guiding principles for integrating ecodesign into digital governance.
• Potential follow-up initiatives: The session may lead to collaborative opportunities, follow-up discussions, or publications that further explore the role of ecodesign in digital sustainability.
Hybrid Format: To ensure an inclusive and engaging hybrid experience, we will employ several strategies to facilitate meaningful interaction between onsite and online participants. A dedicated online moderator will ensure remote participants can engage in real-time discussions. Live Q&A sessions will allow both onsite and virtual attendees to ask questions and contribute to the conversation. A chat function will be actively monitored to ensure remote attendees’ questions and comments are addressed. And finally, key takeaways will be shared on platforms such as Twitter/X and LinkedIn to extend the discussion beyond the session.