Europe must steer AI and digitalisation to support its green transition | Press releases
Europe must steer AI and digitalisation to support its green transition | Press releases
Publish Date: 2026-05-05 04:00:00
Source Domain: www.eea.europa.eu
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Environmental and Digital Twin Transition: The European Environment Agency (EEA) emphasizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation could either support Europe’s green ambitions or undermine them. Properly guided policies are necessary to harness a “double dividend” from these technologies.
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Potential Benefits: Digital technologies and AI can bring significant environmental benefits if aligned with sustainability, such as improving environmental data collection, industrial processes, transport systems, and consumption choices toward lower-carbon and resource-efficient options.
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Transformative Impact of AI and Digitalisation: These technologies are reshaping economies, consumption decisions, and value chains. Without clear policy direction, they risk increasing energy and material demands, sustaining resource-intensive models, and worsening social inequalities.
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Environmental Impact of Digital Growth: The rapid expansion of data centers and digital infrastructure is increasing demand for energy, water, and critical raw materials, highlighting the growing environmental footprint that efficiency alone cannot counterbalance.
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Strategic Importance: Digitalisation and AI are pivotal for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy in the face of rising geopolitical competition and economic uncertainties.
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Regulatory and Legislative Framework: The EEA underscores the necessity of deliberate policy choices and stricter regulation to align digital innovation with sustainability and environmental objectives, with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and broader EU strategies coming into play.
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Alignment with Sustainability Goals: Successful digital transformation to support climate neutrality, resource efficiency, and long-term resilience requires closer integration between digital policies, consumption measures, and environmental goals.
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Implementation of EU Policies: The EEA’s findings are particularly relevant for implementing crucial EU legislative and policy frameworks that link digital transformation with sustainability and competitiveness.
