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Events

23 May 2025, 10:30 – 16:00

Hosted by ITU and the German Environment Agency (UBA) at GITEX Europe, Messe Berlin
The Green Digital Action Summit was an essential gathering at the intersection of digital innovation and climate action. The summit reflected on the progress made since the COP29 Green Digital Action Declaration and set the stage for further momentum toward sustainable technology solutions, especially in anticipation of COP30 in Brazil.
The Summit explored the challenges and opportunities in green tech, policy development, and digital innovation that will help shape the future of our collective environmental stewardship. Participants came together to leverage digital solutions for a greener, more sustainable future.
An outcome report will follow.

GDA Summit - Gitex 2025

Programme

Welcome Address by Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU

by Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency and CODES Chair

  • Mechanisms to ensure environmental considerations are integrated into digital technology deployment
  • Enhancing interdisciplinary cooperation for sustainable innovation.

Speakers:
Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency and CODES Chair
Mathieu Wellhoff, Head of Digital Sobriety, ADEME
Prof. Dr. Philipp Hacker, European New School of Digital Studies
Kilian Vieth-Ditlmann, Head of Policy, Algorithm Watch
Moderator: Robin Zuercher, Programme Lead, Green Digital Action, ITU

  • What are the challenges and opportunities in leveraging digital technologies to align national energy systems with renewable energy targets specified in NDCs?
  • What policies and regulatory frameworks are necessary to support the integration of digital technologies in the pursuit of sustainable energy goals?

Speakers:
H.E. Ms. Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi, Climate and Energy Ambassador of Estonia
Interviewed by Julie Godin, Manager – European Partnerships at GGGI

  • What factors are contributing to the exponential increase in energy consumption by AI systems, and how does this trend compare with global energy use?
  • What strategies and innovations are being developed to reduce the energy consumption of AI systems?
  • How can the tech industry balance the benefits of AI with the need to conserve energy and protect the environment?

Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Eric Masanet, Head, Industrial Sustainability Analysis Lab, University of California, Santa Barbara
Prof. Dr. Lynn Kaack, Hertie School (Computer Science & Public Policy)
Mark Butcher, Director, Posetiv Cloud Ltd.
Hugues Ferreboeuf, The Shift Project, Advisory Board Member, European Green Digital Coalition
Moderator: Mr Bertrand Le Tallec, Economic advisor at the French Embassy in Berlin.

by Ms. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director at GIZ 

Speakers:
Robert Wagner, lead scientist UBA AI and Big Data Solutions Lab
Distinguished HPC Professor Denis Trystram, Grenoble INP/INRIA
Ms. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director at GIZ 
Speaker & Moderator: Max Schulze – Director, Leitmotiv

H.E. Mr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria

  • The current state of global green digital infrastructure investment
  • Key challenges and opportunities for green digital investment

Speakers:
Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria
Charles Hurpy, Senior Digital Specialist, World Bank
Jonas Corne,  Operating Partner, Ardian, founder and former CEO, Greenbyte
Stefan Wunderer, Government Funding Manager, Nokia Mobile Networks
Daniel Paska, Director Sustainability Policy, Ericsson
Moderator: Mathilde McBride, Data Protection Lead, Accenture

  • Ensuring the digital sector takes steps to reduce emissions
  • The importance of measurable goals and transparent reporting
  • How can digital technology companies develop and implement effective Climate Transition Action Plans to achieve net-zero emissions?

Speakers:
Mr. Xavier Merlin, member of the board of ARCEP
Jean-Manuel Canet, Senior Manager Climate Biodiversity, Orange Group
Vanessa Gray, Head of Emergency Telecommunications and Environment Division, ITU
Melanie Kubin-Hardewig, Vice Chair at GESI, Vice President Group Corporate Responsibility Deutsche Telekom AG
Moderator: Reyna Ubeda, Study Group Engineer, ITU

Commissioner Freire, ANATEL, Brazil

  • Why standards are crucial for ensuring technology is a force for environmental good
  • The importance of metrics for the environmental impact of AI
  • Describe how in practice digital can support the importance of standards.
  • How to have more aligned global standards starting from some specific areas

Speakers:
Christoph Winterhalter, Chairman of the Executive Board, DIN
Anne-Marie Tumescheit,  Technology Consultant, Government Relation & Public Affairs, Fsas Technologies
Paolo Gemma, WP2/5 Chair
Moderator: Saifur Rahman, 2023 President, IEEE

  • How can AI and advanced digital tools address climate, health, and agricultural challenges simultaneously?
  • What cross-sector collaboration is needed to leverage nuclear, nutritional, and environmental sciences for global resilience?

Speakers:
Ms Jodie Miller, Head of the Isotope Hydrology Section, IAEA
Moderator: Rahul Jha, Programme Analyst, ITU

  •  How can the integration of Green AI skills contribute to building a more sustainable and inclusive workforce?
  • What challenges must public policy address to ensure that vulnerable workers are not excluded from acquiring Green AI skills?

Speakers:
Beate Andrees, Assistant Director General & Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, ILO
Moderator: Vanessa Gray, Head of Emergency Telecommunications and Environment Division, ITU

Presenter: Dr. Ginelle Greene-Dewasmes, Lead, Artificial Intelligence and Energy, World Economic Forum

Visual Artist & Curator: Diane Drubay, Blueshift

  • Key achievements from COP29 and priorities for COP30
  • How technology stakeholders can further climate action in the lead-up to COP30

Speakers:

H.E. Roberto Jaguaribe, Ambassador of Brazil to Germany; for COP 30
H.E. Nasimi Aghayev, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Germany
Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU
Speaker Moderator: Lala Hikmat, Action Agenda, COP29 Presidency

Speaker: Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU