SoLiXG:Digital and green transition
Twin transition
In response to climate change urgencies, governments are combining increased digitisation efforts with plans for a greener future.[1] For example The EU[2], Switzerland[3] and the UK[4] have issued policy frameworks promoting the "twin digital and green transition" as part of their commitment to Net-Zero. By adding a digital layer on top of common infrastructures such as mobility, energy, healthcare and education, these infrastructures are claimed to become more easy to configure and monitor and therefore optimise resource use. Investments are made in for example blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies because they "could be used in material tracing, promising to aid the circular economy by better maintenance and recycling”.[5] 'Digital Twins', virtual models based on large amounts of captured data, "can model, among others, traffic, to optimize traffic flows, reduce jams and slash emissions in the process.”[6] What is often left out of such propositions is how the twin transition is itself resource intensive, as it relies heavily on Artificial Intelligence for deciding what is efficient. It increases the need for computation, and therefore additional data centers need to be built which consume electricity, clean water, arable land and metals. The reliance on digital technologies for basic public infrastructures might also create issues with privacy and security, and reshape governance structures as dependencies on Big Tech players increase and decision making processes are informed by algorithms.
Anna: Could think of making a keyword on Twin Transition and then having this text. I like it.
Femke reworked as Twin transition
- ↑ “Policy Brief No. 111 - Twin Transition for Global Value Chains: Green and Digital.” UNCTAD, July 2023.
- ↑ “Green Digital Sector: Shaping Europe’s Digital Future.” The European Commission, May 24, 2023. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/green-digital.
- ↑ FOEN, Federal Office for the Environment. “Long-Term Climate Strategy to 2050.”, March 2023
- ↑ GOV.UK. “Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener,” April 5, 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy.
- ↑ “Green Digital Sector: Shaping Europe’s Digital Future.” The European Commission, May 24, 2023. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/green-digital.
- ↑ “Green Digital Sector: Shaping Europe’s Digital Future.” The European Commission, May 24, 2023. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/green-digital.