The European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) has released science-based methodologies and guidance to measure the impact of digital solutions in reducing and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions across different sectors. This represents a milestone for Europe’s twin digital and green transitions, advancing the EU towards climate neutrality and digital leadership.
The new science-based methodologies and guidance will empower stakeholders in Europe and the wider world to make informed decisions when deploying ICT solutions. They are key to driving sustainability and digital innovation across different sectors.
The methodologies can be used not only by companies, but also by local authorities and financial institutions, to deploy and finance innovative digital solutions that have a net positive impact on the climate and bring with them economic benefits.
The publication of these results fulfils one of the EGDC’s main goals, to develop science-based methods to estimate the net environmental impact of digital solutions in different areas. The methodologies look at both the positive contribution and the direct carbon footprint of different digital solutions.
The EGDC was supported by an EU-funded European Parliament Pilot Project. The published results have been validated by an independent high-level board of experts.
The green and digital transitions have been a priority of this Commission. We worked closely with the stakeholders to move this twin transition forward. The European Green Digital Coalition is an excellent example in this regard, as it delivered a standardised method to assess how digital solutions can curb greenhouse gas emissions. This methodology is a valuable tool to boost decarbonisation of climate critical sectors.
Roberto Viola, Director General DG CONNECT
With the climate emergency accelerating, we cannot afford to ignore the power of digital solutions in slashing emissions. However, digitalisation will only help if it is adopted in the right way and if negative impacts are adequately taken into account. The EGDC’s novel methodologies are the result of a unique collaboration among industry, scientists and experts. As such, the EGDC now offers credible, science-based and practical methodologies to inform ESG decisions across our societies and economies
Luis Neves, GeSI CEO, Coordinator of the EGDC Pilot Project
The publications
The publications consist of 3 documents:
- Net Carbon Impact Assessment Methodology for ICT Solutions, including sector specific methodologies
- Real Life Case Studies
- Deployment Guidelines
The Net Carbon Impact Assessment Methodology for ICT Solutions lies at the core of the EGDC publications. It contains requirements for comparing scenarios with and without ICT solutions in a given context, allowing us to accurately quantify the positive contribution and direct footprint – in CO2 equivalent – of a specific digital solution.
It is complemented by sector-specific methodologies illustrating the practical application of each requirement for 6 sectors: energy, construction/buildings, smart cities, agriculture, transport and manufacturing.
The real-life case studies in all 6 sectors helped to refine and illustrate the impact of the methodologies. They were collected from EGDC members and stakeholders deploying ICT solutions. These include cloud-based tools for the energy management in buildings, 5G-enabled manufacturing and agriculture, smart energy and smart city platforms, and more.
Finally, the deployment guidelines were drawn up to enhance the understanding of the deployment of ICT solutions in different sectors. They include guidance on optimising their positive impact on the climate, and minimising negative consequences.
Next steps
Following the publication of these methodologies, the EGDC hopes to see adoption by a wide range of industrial and societal actors to help them in using ICT as a tool to improve their environmental footprint.
The adoption of these methodologies can also help to create a vibrant market for digital innovation that benefits people, the economy and the environment.
Following the publication of the results of the pilot project, the EGDC will deepen its cross-sectoral dialogue and expand support services to stakeholders across the EU economy, including SMEs, the finance sector, and public authorities.
Background
The European Green Digital Coalition was launched in March 2021 by Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton and CEOs of leading ICT companies. To become a member, CEOs must sign a declaration, committing on behalf of their companies to take action in the following areas:
- investing in the development and deployment of green digital solutions with significant energy and material efficiency that achieve a net positive impact in a wide range of sectors;
- developing methods and tools to measure the net impact of green digital technologies on the environment and climate by joining forces with NGOs and relevant expert organisations;
- co-creating, with representatives of others sectors, recommendations and guidelines for green digital transformation of these sectors that benefits environment, society and economy.
Pilot project
The EU-funded European Parliament Pilot Project, led by the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), brought together European DIGITAL SME Alliance, DIGITALEUROPE, ETNO, GSMA and expert organisations Carbon Trust, Deloitte, and Sustainable ICT.
All these organisations form the EGDC Secretariat, which worked closely on the development of methodologies and guidelines together with the EGDC Members, the supporting partners and the European Commission, seeking guidance from an Independent Advisory Board and aligning with standardisation bodies.