UN Agency for Digital Technologies to gather tech community and address the climate crisis

​​​​​​​​By Sonia Meetes, Special Correspondent, Switzerland

Governments, tech industry leaders, and international organizations will gather at COP29, this Saturday, November 16, for the first-ever Digitalisation Day at a UN Climate Conference.

As part of the Green Digital Action track, the event will recognize the importance of digitalization in climate talks and highlight the tech community’s objectives to leverage digital solutions for climate action, mitigate the sector’s impact, and promote digital inclusion.

Green Digital Action, led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) alongside over 50 partners and supporters, aims to mobilize tangible commitments accelerating the green and digital transitions. It is one of the 14 global initiatives included in the COP29 Presidency’s Action Agenda.

Key event: High-Level Roundtable and adoption of the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action

Digitalisation Day will begin with the High-Level Roundtable on Digital Action from 09:00 to 11:00 AZT in Special Events Room 2 (Mugham). Ministers, industry representatives, and policy makers will explore how digital technologies can be harnessed to tackle climate change and strengthen emergency response. Focus will be put on developing strategies aligning digital transformation with global climate goals.

The event will culminate with the endorsement of the first COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action by tech companies, governments and industry organizations. The Declaration calls for sector-wide collaboration to enhance climate monitoring, accelerate emission reductions, and promote inclusive digital access—especially in developing countries.

Other sessions on Digitalisation Day

Complementing the High-Level Roundtable, Digitalisation Day will also feature insightful sessions addressing how digital solutions can drive forward our climate objectives and enhance disaster management. The list of events includes:

​Climate Action: Transition plans to reduce the ICT Sector’s own GHG Emissions, from 11:15 to 12:15 AZT at the Chinese Pavilion.

Strengthening climate information and multi-hazard early warning systems for increased resilience, from 13:00 to 14:30 AZT in Hirkan Room (SE3).

Closing the Loop: Transforming AI into a Green Force, from 13:30 to 14:30 AZT in the Bulgarian Pavilion​.

AI for UN Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative, from 14:30 to 16:00 AZT at the Bulgarian Pavilion.

Advancing Green Digital Action Towards Net-Zero ICT Sector, from 15:30 to 16:30 AZT in the Trade and Investment House (Green Zone).

All times AZT / GMT +4 hours.