The European Green Digital Coalition gets a boost by top Associations
Laying the foundational work for the digital and green twin transitions
Brussels, January 24, 2022 – Leading associations Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), European DIGITAL SME Alliance, DIGITALEUROPE, ETNO, GSMA are pleased to announce that they were awarded by European Commission the European Parliament Pilot project. These associations will work with the European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) to reach the objectives of the EGDC founding members’ Declaration.
This Declaration is now signed by 76 companies active in Europe, 31 current EGDC members and additional 45 SMEs applying for membership, which aim to develop an agreed methodology to measure the net impact of green digital technologies, along with promoting their uptake across sectors of the economy and society.
While the need for a twin transition is a top political priority for the European Union, there is still no common framework for assessing the environmental benefits and net impacts of digitally enabled solutions. This European Parliament Pilot Project will set up governance and cooperation mechanisms that will bring together current and future members of the EGDC as well as top experts and EU institutions to agree on a science-based approach to maximise the benefits of green digital twin transition. This will form the foundation of Europe’s twin transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership.
To achieve these objectives, the consortium led by GeSI will work together with expert organisations Carbon Trust, Deloitte, and Sustainable ICT Consulting. The Pilot Project will take place over two years and aims at delivering the first results already in 2022.
A science-based approach to the twin green and digital transitions
The project will address a crucial shortcoming in the current landscape: it will provide science-based methods to estimate the net environmental impact of real-life digital solutions - that is both the positive contribution (e.g. carbon reduction) and the direct footprint of a given digital solution. The Consortium will engage in extensive consultations with industry verticals, with a focus on smart energy, connected mobility, energy efficient builds and construction, precision farming and smart manufacturing. Based on the developed methods to estimate the environmental benefits of digitalisation, the EP Pilot project will create recommendations for green digital transformation across and promote a widespread take-up by industry players, including SMEs.
“The associations in the consortium are proud of having been awarded this important project. The ambition is high, as we now need to deliver a common European framework for measuring the environmental benefits of digital uptake. We will contribute to the realisation of the commitments of the European Green Digital Coalition corporate members, to deliver concrete climate actions. I’m convinced that this project will harness the benefits of the green digital twin transitions across industries and societies in Europe and beyond.”
Luis Neves, CEO, GeSI
“The EU’s goal is to lead globally in deploying data and digital solutions for a more sustainable and circular economy. This European Pilot project, supported by leading associations and experts, is an important contribution towards achieving this ambitious goal. I thank all members of the consortium for their pioneering role and, together with colleagues, will give it and the European Green Digital Coalition, our full support.”
Gerard de Graaf, Director, Digital Transformation, DG CONNECT
“The selection of leading federations to work with the European Green Digital Coalition is a key step towards a green digital revolution in Europe. I am thrilled to see this project, which I have initiated together with the European Commission, move forward as it will help policymakers, the industry and civil society make the green and digital transitions a reality. The European Parliament wholeheartedly supports this initiative.”
MEP Valérie Hayer (Renew Europe), co-President of the French delegation
