First results of Bitkom study “The digital economy’s impact on the climate”

Digital technologies can contribute almost half to Germany achieving its 2030 climate goals. This emerges from the first results of a study by the digital sector’s business association Bitkom, conducted by Accenture. In the four areas examined so far, CO2 emissions in Germany can be reduced by as much as 120 megatonnes in 2030 through targeted and accelerated deployment of digital solutions. That corresponds to almost one of every two tonnes that Germany still has to save if it is to reach the climate objectives it has set itself. The possible contribution could even exceed 50% if other fields of application are included. The greatest potential is found in the areas of industrial manufacture and mobility.

However, the study does not look only at the potential for CO2 savings but also at the carbon footprint of the digital infrastructure itself and calculates the net impact on the climate. On this measure, the CO2 savings potential with moderate digitization is four times greater than the footprint and five times greater with accelerated digitization.

Accelerated digitization not only contributes to environmental and climate protection, it also improves the competitiveness of the German economy. Digitization can reconcile economic growth with environmental and climate protection. What is needed now is targeted and daring support from policymakers and decisive action by decision makers at the top of the corporate ladder.

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