On September 19th, 2024, during the IFIP General Assembly in Lisbon, Professor Raimundo Macêdo, chair of the IFIP Task Force on Climate Change and Digital Technologies, presented the highly anticipated findings of the task force. Established in December 2022 in response to the urgent global need for climate action, the task force spent nearly two years rigorously investigating how digital technologies can contribute to and mitigate climate change.

In his presentation, Professor Macêdo outlined the task force’s comprehensive final report, which detailed the group’s history, methodology, and critical findings from numerous online meetings, collaborations within subgroups, and a survey distributed to IFIP member societies and technical committees. The report is divided into two parts:

  1. Understanding Climate Change and Digital Technologies: The first part introduces the major concepts and challenges of climate change and explores the role of digital technologies in addressing these issues. It outlines commonly adopted strategies to combat climate change and the digital technologies needed to improve the efficiency of these efforts.
  2. Targeted Recommendations for Stakeholders: The second part focuses on practical recommendations for a variety of stakeholders, including individuals, computer societies, governments, the ICT industry, the research and development sector, and industries considered critical in the fight against climate change—such as energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation. It also highlights the essential role of public awareness and education.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of how digital technologies can be harnessed to address the climate crisis, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and public engagement as core components in this global effort.

Key Takeaways from the Presentation

  • Alarming Climate Data:

Professor Macêdo underscored the urgent nature of the climate crisis, presenting alarming data on rising global temperatures, increasing sea levels, and the growing frequency of extreme weather events. These findings highlight the severe and immediate impacts of climate change worldwide.

  • The Role of ICT:

The presentation emphasized the dual role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the climate crisis. While ICT contributes to carbon emissions, it also holds immense potential for promoting sustainability through innovation and developing green technologies. The task force identified critical areas where digital technologies can be strategically applied, including energy, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing.

  • Task Force Recommendations:

The task force outlined a series of recommendations aimed at different stakeholder groups. These include:

  • Sustainable digital practices for individuals,
  • Investments in green innovation by industries,
  • Government policies that support sustainability,
  • Integration of climate-related studies into curricula of educational institutions 
  • Public awareness campaigns to foster greater societal engagement in the fight against climate change.
  • Call for Immediate Action:

Professor Macêdo concluded his presentation with a compelling call to action, stressing the need for immediate and coordinated efforts to harness digital technologies in combating climate change. He highlighted that collaboration and innovation are essential to achieve the climate goals outlined in international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.

Further Information

For those interested in exploring the full details of the task force’s findings, the IFIP Task Force on Climate Change and Digital Technologies report is available at https://doi.org/10.52545/2-7