Study: Digitalization Could Slash German CO2 Emissions by 120 Million Tons by 2030
A recent study by Bitkom, a German digital association, reveals that targeted digitalization could significantly reduce CO2 emissions in key sectors. The report, titled 'Climate Protection through Digitalization', highlights the potential of digital technologies in combating climate change.
The study, available at https://www.ourwebsite/Climateprotection, focuses on four areas: manufacturing, mobility, buildings, and work & business. It suggests that consistent and accelerated digitalization in these sectors could reduce CO2 emissions by 120 million tons by 2030. This is nearly half of Germany's self-set climate target of 262 million tons for the same period.
The report, conducted by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) as part of the 'Climate Impacts of Digitization' project, also notes that the savings effects of digital technologies are four times greater than their own CO2 footprint. This means that while digital technologies themselves consume energy, their overall impact on reducing emissions is substantial.
Bitkom demands targeted political support for these climate-friendly technologies. The Digital Summit has already launched initiatives like Smart Schools to improve digital education and GAIA-X for a European cloud infrastructure. However, the study also acknowledges that while the Corona pandemic has accelerated digitalization, it has also highlighted existing digital deficits. Therefore, a balanced approach is needed to harness the potential of digitalization for climate protection while addressing its challenges.
