At DI Digital, we are fully convinced that the continuous development and application of technology will enhance our ability to address climate challenges—both today and in the future. At the same time, we are fully aware that increased use of technology also leads to a greater climate footprint from the digital industry. This is something we must address in order to unlock the full potential of responsible technology use in the green transition.
By Andreas Holbak Espersen, Director of Digitalization Policy at the Confederation of Danish Industry
Technology and digitalisation come with the promise of a climate-neutral future.
There are numerous examples of data-driven and technological climate solutions, where digitalisation plays a central role in the green transition. The potential continues to grow, not least in light of the breakthroughs in artificial intelligence in recent years. At the same time, the demand for immediate and lasting solutions to the climate crisis is higher than ever.
Digitalisation and technology have long been prerequisites for the green transition across various industries and sectors. This includes, for example, the development of software and systems that support energy efficiency, better utilisation, and increased productivity in renewable energy, as well as enabling energy storage.
With the advancement of artificial intelligence, the possibilities become even greater. We are seeing technologies that could revolutionise agriculture and food production by enabling more precise cultivation and tracking of growth and diseases—ensuring the right amount of food production while also respecting nature. Artificial intelligence can also support biodiversity by detecting invasive species that harm natural ecosystems.
But the key to making artificial intelligence the gamechanger for the green transition that I hope it can be lies in the fact that the technology is constantly becoming smarter and more advanced. This enables it not only to help us understand and manage current climate challenges, but also to prepare for future events. It is through the continuous development of technology that the potential of using digital solutions becomes even greater—and truly central to the goal of a more sustainable future for all of us.
It is crucial that we also focus on maturing digital technologies that can be applied in the green transition across different parts of society. We must therefore focus on the entire value chain—from access to raw materials, which become microchips, and which open the door to new sophisticated and advanced hardware and software solutions in businesses.
If we are to succeed in creating a climate-neutral Denmark, we need to address critical technologies and raw materials that are necessary, for example, to expand our electricity infrastructure, calculate and realise the potential of Power-to-X, and advance sustainable energy sources.
It is clear that as the development and application of even more advanced technology for the green transition—and for the broader digitalisation of society—increases, so too will the climate footprint of the digital industry.
Artificial intelligence and other new types of technologies require enormous amounts of data, which must be stored in data centres. As a result, the demand for energy, water, and other critical raw materials is expected to increase in the future.
It is therefore important that Denmark, as a green and digital frontrunner, focuses not only on the many opportunities that technology brings to the green transition but also on how we manage the growing resource consumption of the digital industry.
The positive news is that we can take concrete steps to ensure a more appropriate and responsible use of artificial intelligence—and many data centre operators in Denmark are already addressing this.
Denmark, in general, holds an advantageous position compared to many other countries when it comes to the potential for operating more energy- and climate-friendly data centres.
With relatively broad access to renewable energy sources, we can ensure that data centres run on greener electricity. We also have the opportunity to connect data centres to the district heating grid, allowing us to reuse the excess heat they generate to warm households and other industries. This is a strategic strength we should increasingly make use of to take sustainable responsibility for digital development in Denmark—and something that can inspire the rest of the world.
We must also remember that the energy efficiency and performance of the microchips used in both hardware and data centres are constantly improving. As a result, supporting the digital processes we are developing today will require fewer resources in the future.
As the use of artificial intelligence accelerates, it is my hope that we will simultaneously become better at improving energy efficiency and optimising the use of resources in the components that support the technology. In my view, there is no alternative to continuing the path of digital development—but it must happen in a sustainable and responsible way.