BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:unctad.org
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:6a970c34934ca
DTSTART:20241009T140000Z
SEQUENCE:0
TRANSP:OPAQUE
DTEND:20241009T163000Z
LOCATION:UN Headquarters\, New York\, United States of America
SUMMARY:UN 2nd Committee side event on shaping an environmentally sustainab
 le and inclusive digital future
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:WATCH ONLINE (live and on-demand after the event)How can the fo
 llow-up to Global Digital Compact best reflect the environmental dimension
 ? Continuing rapid digitalization of the global economy offers significant
  opportunities for growth and resilience in times of cascading crises and 
 uncertainty. Data and digital technologies can support trade\, development
 \, and sustainability\, while also mitigating environmental and developmen
 tal challenges. However\, it is important to also ensure that the fast-evo
 lving digital ecosystem remains environmentally sustainable. So far\, shif
 ts towards digital and low-carbon technologies have been treated separatel
 y\, despite being deeply interconnected within the broader transition of t
 he global economy. Addressing them together is necessary for coherent poli
 cies.The Digital Economy Report 2024 highlights the growing environmental 
 costs of digital reliance\, including in the form of resource depletion\, 
 pollution and waste. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence an
 d the Internet of things are likely to exacerbate these issues.While makin
 g digitalization as sustainable as possible it is also essential to ensure
  that developing countries\, lagging in digitalization and more vulnerable
  to early climate impacts\, can catch up and fully benefit from digital op
 portunities. Collaborative efforts involving governments\, civil society a
 nd partnerships like the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainabilit
 y (CODES) are needed. Immediate action is needed to shape the future digit
 al economy and its environmental footprint.In line with this year’s UN G
 eneral Assembly’s Second Committee general debate theme\, Growth and Res
 ilience in Uncertain Times\, this event – co-organized by UNCTAD and UNE
 P – will explore ways to maximize the benefits of digitalization while a
 ddressing sustainability and inclusive development challenges. The event h
 olds significant relevance for both the follow-up processes to the Global 
 Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 review.Guiding questionsWhat is the enviro
 nmental footprint of digitalization?What are the implications for developi
 ng countries?How can various forums and processes within the United Nation
 s help ensure that the increased reliance on low-carbon and digital techno
 logies are addressed holistically?  https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k16/k1
 6fs9s2rt\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/un-2nd-
 committee-side-event-shaping-environmentally-sustainable-and-inclusive-dig
 ital
DTSTAMP:20260901T173236Z
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