Artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies have piqued global excitement with their promise to drive economic growth and opportunity, unlock scientific breakthroughs, and build better services.
But as we race to close the global digital divide, we must also ask ourselves some tough questions.
What does all this digital progress mean for the planet? Can we have digital transformation that is also sustainable?
The rapid expansion of digital technology has already resulted in a major rise in energy consumption. This underscores the urgent necessity to address the environmental consequences associated with this sector.
Furthermore, approximately 2.6 billion individuals, primarily in lower and middle-income nations, still do not have access to digital technology and need to be connected. This will add to the environmental strain.
