Closing Keynote: Unveiling the Hidden Costs: The Environmental Impact of Digitalization on the Road to Net-Zero Emissions

Join us as we delve into the pivotal yet often overlooked facet of the global drive towards net-zero emissions: the environmental ramifications of digitalization. While initiatives such as the UK’s ‘Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy’ have rightly prioritized physical decarbonization efforts within businesses, the ecological footprint of digitalization itself remains inadequately addressed.

In an era where our digital presence is expanding at a rapid rate alongside the burgeoning metaverse, the true costs of digitalization loom large over industry, society, and the environment. Yet, governmental policies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions have largely sidestepped these pressing concerns.

Consider this: data centres alone consume more power than the entire UK and harbour a staggering 65% of dark data—unused or underutilized information—contributing substantially to the 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to digitalization.

Join us as we navigate through this critical terrain, exploring the intersection of digitalization and sustainability, and charting a course towards a greener, more sustainable future.