Catalyzing the Green Digital Transformation

Hello everyone, and welcome to “Catalyzing the Green Digital Transformation”. We'll start the event in a few minutes. Please stay tuned and submit your comments and questions using the live chat.

You can join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #ClimateActionWBG.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Welcome everyone! I’m Anne Elicano-Shields with the World Bank, and I will be live blogging this event. Raj Kumar, President & Editor-and-Chief, Devex, is moderating the discussion on the ground.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Listed on this page you can see the speakers participating in today’s discussion. The event will begin with introductory remarks from Mari Pangestu, Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships of the World Bank.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Mari sets the stage for the session by introducing the big picture of how climate change is a challenge, and the role digital can play for climate action by “greening of ICT” and “greening with ICT.”
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Mari highlights how the digital sector is a small but growing source of global GHG emissions. The carbon emissions from the sector range from 1.4% to 4% of global emissions, which is similar to that of the airline industry.To reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, emissions from the digital sector will need to be reduced by at least half by 2030.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Given the important nexus of digital technologies and climate action, Mari says, the World Bank is launching today a preview of its flagship report on “Catalyzing the Green Digital Transformation.”
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Mari concludes by thanking everyone. Join the conversation on Twitter or LinkedIn with the hashtag #ClimateActionWBG. We want to hear your thoughts!
Anne Elicano-Shields 

The panel discussion begins. Riccardo Puliti, Vice President of Infrastructure of the World Bank, shares how the World Bank is operationalizing the Green Digital Transformation.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Riccardo says there are a couple of actions the Bank believe are necessary: (1) Many governments are committed to both climate action and digital transformation – but most often in silos. Bridging these ambitions is a task that requires policy dialogue, capacity building and general awareness raising. (2) It’s important to demonstrate what Green Digital means in action, particularly in the context of lower middle-income countries.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Raj asks Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director of GIZ- what aspects of the Green Digital Transformation does GIZ see as the most critical?
Anne Elicano-Shields 

I am hoping to hear how Africa specifically can close the digital gab in green transformation
Attendee #83 

Raj concludes the panel discussion with Riccardo and Ingrid. Raj introduces a video from Ursula Owusu, Minister of Communications and Technology of Ghana.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Remember, you can join the conversation on Twitter or LinkedIn with the hashtag #ClimateActionWBG. We want to hear your thoughts!
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Carla Montesi, Director for Green Deal and Digital Agenda (Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission) joins the discussion.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

Marsden Hanna, Global Head of Sustainability and Climate Policy (Google) shares what it’s like working with the public sector. Google has taken on a net zero goal last year and has undertaken a "greening of IT and by IT".
Anne Elicano-Shields 

That concludes the discussion. Thank you to all who tuned in! If you’ve missed anything, note that the recording of the event is already available on this page.
Anne Elicano-Shields 

This discussion was very insightful
Attendee #86