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A global coalition has launched the Green Digital Action Hub (GDA Hub), a new international cooperation platform established as a lasting legacy of COP30 in Brazil.
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This initiative is designed to serve as a central nerve centre, accelerating digital technology and innovation to combat climate change and advance sustainable development for all. The hub will focus on harnessing the power of technology to drive tangible climate action and foster a more sustainable future.
Unveiled on COP30’s opening day, the hub is set to become the nerve centre of Green Digital Action, a partnership kicked off by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with leading tech organizations at COP28 in 2023. Designed to accelerate the integration of digital technologies and sustainable development, the new hub aims to drive sustainability within and beyond the tech sector, with a strong focus on the Global South.
The GDA Hub will provide tools, expertise, and data to help nations scale up green technologies, reduce environmental footprint of technology and ensure access to sustainable digital solutions for all. The new hub builds on the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, endorsed by 82 countries and nearly 1,800 companies and organizations last year.
Global collaboration for a sustainable future
COP30’s spirit of “mutirão” — a collective push – will live on as governments, industry players, and civil society come together at the GDA Hub, further enhancing the multi-stakeholder partner network built up through Green Digital Action over the last two years.
“Digital technologies are some of the most powerful tools we have to create sustainable solutions on a truly global scale. The Green Digital Action Hub offers a unique space for governments, industry, and stakeholders to work together, and ensure that digital innovation delivers real, tangible benefits for communities everywhere,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General:
Organizations shaping discussions and engagement at the hub will include the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the World Bank Group, the European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC), Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES), and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), as well as ITU. In parallel, an International Advisory Board led by Brazil will oversee progress to ensure inclusive and impactful outcomes.
Driving climate action through technology
Digital tools are now indispensable to track climate change, boost energy efficiency, enhance re-use of critical minerals and optimize low-carbon solutions across numerous industries.
The GDA Hub will aim to identify practical measures to address climate challenges, both through “greening digital” itself and “greening by digital” in other sectors. Key focus areas will include:
- Tracking emissions and e-waste: Launching an open-access portal to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, reductions, and e-waste data from tech companies and countries.
- Mapping national goals: Identifying green digital targets, strategies, and enablers, particularly within climate pledges (Nationally Determined Contributions) linked to the Paris climate accords.
- Scaling solutions: Supporting innovation and technology transfer to help countries adopt and expand green digital strategies.
- Accelerating decarbonization plans: Serving as the implementation hub for the Digital Decarbonization Plan to Accelerate Solutions (PAS) under the COP30 Action Agenda.
Other Green Digital Action highlights at COP30 include progress updates on a global database to track tech-related emissions, the release of a policy brief on digitalization plans in national climate pledges, and the announcement of winners from two AI-focused competitions: the AI for Climate Action Innovation Factory and the AI Environmental Footprint Measurement Hackathon.
