The trade-offs between digitalisation and climate action: Why digitalisation must be sustainable

Digitalisation is a double-edged sword when it comes to climate action. On the one hand, digital technologies play an important role in the energy, transport and heating transition – for example by integrating intermittent renewable power into the electricity market. On the other hand, growing digitalisation itself is causing higher energy and resource consumption and, hence, greenhouse gas emissions. This is the finding of a study conducted on behalf of KfW Research, which analysed in detail the reciprocal effects between the two megatrends of digitalisation and climate neutrality. Policy guidelines are required both for harnessing the opportunities of digitalisation for climate action and for limiting harmful environmental effects.

The trade-offs between digitalisation and climate action: Why digitalisation must be sustainable(PDF, 203 KB, non-accessible)

Press release