Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

Bonn, 13. Februar 2024. Digitalisierung und Umweltbelange müssen systematisch miteinander verbunden werden. Andernfalls droht der ökologische Fußabdruck der Digitalisierung ihre Vorteile zu überwiegen.

Die Digitalisierung verfügt über großes Potenzial für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Doch die Vorteile der Digitalisierung werden mit einem hohen ökologischen Preis bezahlt. Um die digitale Transformation mit der Bewältigung der ökologischen Krise zu verbinden, müssen ihre Umweltauswirkungen ausgewiesen und Umweltvorteile vorrangig berücksichtigt werden. Internationale sektorenübergreifende Koalitionen können dazu den Weg ebnen.

Positiv auf die Umwelt wirken digitale Technologien, wenn die Sammlung und Analyse großer Datenmengen die Umsetzung umweltfreundlicher Lösungen in den Bereichen Energie, Landwirtschaft oder Mobilität ermöglichen. Digitalisierung optimiert Energieeffizienz und industrielle Prozesse durch virtuelle Modelle (digitale Zwillinge) oder ermöglicht durch intelligente Netzsteuerung die Integration erneuerbarer Energien. Sie kann Re-Design, Reparatur, Recycling und Vertrieb im Sinne einer Kreislaufwirtschaft unterstützen. Precision Farming optimiert den Einsatz von Düngemitteln und Wasser in der Landwirtschaft, und Smart City- und Mobilitätskonzepte können Staus und Emissionen verringern, ebenso wie IT-basierte Heimarbeit.

Unter dem Strich hat der Einsatz digitaler Werkzeuge jedoch bis heute kaum zur Verbesserung der Umweltbilanz geführt: Industrien und Konsumgüter werden digitaler, aber oft auf Kosten einer Zunahme negativer Folgen. Dazu gehören Energieverbrauch, Treibhausgasemissionen, Elektroschrott und Ressourcenverbrauch. Rebound-Effekte spielen hier eine wichtige Rolle. Sie treten auf, wenn positive Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung, zum Beispiel Effizienzgewinne, zur höheren Attraktivität eines Produkts oder einer Dienstleistung und in Folge zu mehr Verkäufen oder vermehrter Nutzung führen. Ursprünglich erzielte Einsparungen werden dabei zunichte gemacht.

Der Energieverbrauch von digitalen Infrastrukturen, Diensten und Geräten, insbesondere bei ihrer Herstellung, ist ein zentrales Problem. Sensoren, Server, Rechenzentren, das Trainieren von künstlicher Intelligenz, Online-Streaming und WLAN-Router – sie alle haben einen enormen CO2-Fußabdruck, solange die Energie aus fossilen Quellen stammt. Hardware ist auf seltene Erden angewiesen, deren Abbau zur Zerstörung von Lebensräumen führen kann. Ein Beispiel dafür ist Lithium. Das Element ist für Batterien und damit für Elektromobilität von entscheidender Bedeutung, doch seine Gewinnung bedroht das Ökosystem Wüste. Die Gewinnung von Materialien findet zudem häufig in Entwicklungsländern unter Bedingungen statt, die der Bevölkerung vor Ort schaden.

Das gilt auch für die Entsorgung von Elektroaltgeräten. Elektroschrott gehört zu den am schnellsten wachsenden Abfallsorten. Selbst in der EU, der Region mit der mit Abstand höchsten Recyclingquote weltweit, werden weniger als 40 % wiederverwendet. Hinzu kommen Wasserprobleme: Die Kühlung von Rechenzentren erfordert erhebliche Mengen und kann Wasserkonflikte verschärfen. Googles Hyperscale-Rechenzentren, die für Gmail, Google Drive und YouTube gebraucht werden, verbrauchen 2,1 Millionen Liter Wasser – täglich.

Digitalisierung und Umweltbelange müssen deshalb endlich systematisch zusammengeführt werden. Dazu ist es notwendig, sich von Illusionen über technische Wunderlösungen zu verabschieden und digitale Innovationen dort einzusetzen, wo sie der Umwelt wirklich nützen. Dies beginnt mit der Erfassung und Ausweisung der ökologischen Kosten von Produkten und Dienstleistungen während Produktion, Nutzung und Entsorgung. Die politische Steuerung sollte Effizienzgewinne der Digitalisierung in den Sektoren Energie, Produktion, Mobilität und Gebäude priorisieren. Um Ziele und Kommunikation abzustimmen, sind Multi-Stakeholder-Koalitionen zwischen öffentlichen Einrichtungen, Forschung, Tech-Community und Umweltverbänden entscheidend. Neue Initiativen im Rahmen des EU Green Deal zu Ökodesign und digitalen Produktpässen, Verbraucherinformationen und der Reparatur von Waren können negative Umweltauswirkungen verringern, wenn sie die Folgen auch außerhalb der EU, einschließlich der Entwicklungsländer, berücksichtigen. Folglich muss die Verbindung von Umwelt und Digitalisierung auch in internationalen Prozessen wie dem Global Digital Compact der Vereinten Nationen, der G20, bilateralen Handels- und Technologieräten und digitalen Dialogen vorrangig behandelt werden. Auf diese Weise ist es möglich, die Digitalisierung umweltfreundlicher zu gestalten und gleichzeitig ihre Lösungen für ökologische Nachhaltigkeit zu nutzen.

Simone Lucatello ist Professor des Instituto Mora in Mexiko-Stadt. Er war PRODIGEES/MGG-Gastwissenschaftler am IDOS im Jahr 2023. Als Autor globaler Umweltberichte für die Vereinten Nationen widmet er sich in seiner Forschung der internationalen Zusammenarbeit und dem Klimawandel.

Wulf Reiners ist Politikwissenschaftler im IDOS-Forschungsprogramm "Inter- und transnationale Zusammenarbeit". Er ist Leiter des ‚Managing Global Governance‘ (MGG)-Programms und wissenschaftlicher Koordinator des PRODIGEES-Projekts.

Diese Kolumne ist im Rahmen des EU Horizon2020-Projekts „PRODIGEES – Promoting Research on Digitalisation in Emerging Powers and Europe Towards Sustainable Development“ (873119-PRODIGEES‑H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019), ko-finanziert von der Europäischen Union, entstanden. Weiterführende Informationen finden Sie unter www.prodigees.info.

In December, the EU and Kenya signed a trade agreement featuring strong provisions on environmental, social and labour standards. Niels Keijzer, Frederik Stender and Tim Vogel write that as Kenya walks the fine line of compliance, the outcome could not only shape the country’s economic landscape but also have implications for Kenya’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

In December, the EU and Kenya signed a trade agreement featuring strong provisions on environmental, social and labour standards. Niels Keijzer, Frederik Stender and Tim Vogel write that as Kenya walks the fine line of compliance, the outcome could not only shape the country’s economic landscape but also have implications for Kenya’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

In December, the EU and Kenya signed a trade agreement featuring strong provisions on environmental, social and labour standards. Niels Keijzer, Frederik Stender and Tim Vogel write that as Kenya walks the fine line of compliance, the outcome could not only shape the country’s economic landscape but also have implications for Kenya’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The new European Parliament, the next European Commission, and the European Council will have a long path ahead to prepare for the next decades of global sustainable development. Jointly reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the SDGs is a clear way forward, UN and EESC experts write.

The new European Parliament, the next European Commission, and the European Council will have a long path ahead to prepare for the next decades of global sustainable development. Jointly reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the SDGs is a clear way forward, UN and EESC experts write.

The new European Parliament, the next European Commission, and the European Council will have a long path ahead to prepare for the next decades of global sustainable development. Jointly reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the SDGs is a clear way forward, UN and EESC experts write.

This paper examines the evolution of the gender employment gap post COVID-19 in the Egyptian manufacturing sector, using a unique firm-level data set. The findings show that the COVID-19 shock led to a slight improvement in the gender employment gap, both in absolute and relative terms, driven by a larger reduction in male employment compared to that for female employment. The heterogeneity analysis shows that exporting firms and firms in industrial zones on average increased both types of employment post COVID-19. Two types of firms contributed to a worsening of the gender gap, namely firms that adopted technology and those that provided worker training prior to the pandemic, pushing male employment up while not doing the same for female employment. Additionally, the informal sector contributed to a worsening of the gender gap during the pandemic.

This paper examines the evolution of the gender employment gap post COVID-19 in the Egyptian manufacturing sector, using a unique firm-level data set. The findings show that the COVID-19 shock led to a slight improvement in the gender employment gap, both in absolute and relative terms, driven by a larger reduction in male employment compared to that for female employment. The heterogeneity analysis shows that exporting firms and firms in industrial zones on average increased both types of employment post COVID-19. Two types of firms contributed to a worsening of the gender gap, namely firms that adopted technology and those that provided worker training prior to the pandemic, pushing male employment up while not doing the same for female employment. Additionally, the informal sector contributed to a worsening of the gender gap during the pandemic.

This paper examines the evolution of the gender employment gap post COVID-19 in the Egyptian manufacturing sector, using a unique firm-level data set. The findings show that the COVID-19 shock led to a slight improvement in the gender employment gap, both in absolute and relative terms, driven by a larger reduction in male employment compared to that for female employment. The heterogeneity analysis shows that exporting firms and firms in industrial zones on average increased both types of employment post COVID-19. Two types of firms contributed to a worsening of the gender gap, namely firms that adopted technology and those that provided worker training prior to the pandemic, pushing male employment up while not doing the same for female employment. Additionally, the informal sector contributed to a worsening of the gender gap during the pandemic.

The Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24 (5th edition) provides an independent quantitative assessment of the progress by the European Union, its member states and partner countries towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In light of the upcoming European Elections and UN Summit of the future, this year’s edition identifies 10 priority actions for the incoming EU leadership to accelerate SDG implementation within Europe and internationally. In the context of a fragmented and multipolar world, the ESDR 2023/24 calls for decisive action by the EU to avoid dangerous environmental and social tipping points. The Europe Sustainable Development Report is co-designed and co-created by and with civil society in Europe. This year’s edition builds on three workshops and one online public consultation organized between April and November 2023. On 04 April 2023, the SDSN and EESC organized a hybrid workshop on ‘How to Strengthen EU’s leadership for the SDGs’ which brought together more than 600 participants, including panellists from the European Parliament, the European Commission, current and incoming Council presidencies, civil society organizations, scientific institutions, and international organizations. Further workshops were held on 12 September 2023 (online) and on 8 November 2023 at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels (hybrid format), bringing together scientists, experts and practitioners from all over Europe. The opening chapter and joint statement also benefited from several rounds of consultations with partners.

The Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24 (5th edition) provides an independent quantitative assessment of the progress by the European Union, its member states and partner countries towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In light of the upcoming European Elections and UN Summit of the future, this year’s edition identifies 10 priority actions for the incoming EU leadership to accelerate SDG implementation within Europe and internationally. In the context of a fragmented and multipolar world, the ESDR 2023/24 calls for decisive action by the EU to avoid dangerous environmental and social tipping points. The Europe Sustainable Development Report is co-designed and co-created by and with civil society in Europe. This year’s edition builds on three workshops and one online public consultation organized between April and November 2023. On 04 April 2023, the SDSN and EESC organized a hybrid workshop on ‘How to Strengthen EU’s leadership for the SDGs’ which brought together more than 600 participants, including panellists from the European Parliament, the European Commission, current and incoming Council presidencies, civil society organizations, scientific institutions, and international organizations. Further workshops were held on 12 September 2023 (online) and on 8 November 2023 at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels (hybrid format), bringing together scientists, experts and practitioners from all over Europe. The opening chapter and joint statement also benefited from several rounds of consultations with partners.

The Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24 (5th edition) provides an independent quantitative assessment of the progress by the European Union, its member states and partner countries towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In light of the upcoming European Elections and UN Summit of the future, this year’s edition identifies 10 priority actions for the incoming EU leadership to accelerate SDG implementation within Europe and internationally. In the context of a fragmented and multipolar world, the ESDR 2023/24 calls for decisive action by the EU to avoid dangerous environmental and social tipping points. The Europe Sustainable Development Report is co-designed and co-created by and with civil society in Europe. This year’s edition builds on three workshops and one online public consultation organized between April and November 2023. On 04 April 2023, the SDSN and EESC organized a hybrid workshop on ‘How to Strengthen EU’s leadership for the SDGs’ which brought together more than 600 participants, including panellists from the European Parliament, the European Commission, current and incoming Council presidencies, civil society organizations, scientific institutions, and international organizations. Further workshops were held on 12 September 2023 (online) and on 8 November 2023 at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels (hybrid format), bringing together scientists, experts and practitioners from all over Europe. The opening chapter and joint statement also benefited from several rounds of consultations with partners.

Event Video 

The UN Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace places a strong emphasis on national action to prevent conflict and achieve sustainable development. As a result, national parliaments have an important role to play in the pursuit of a strengthened system of global governance and a more effective approach to collective security.

From February 8th-9th, over 200 parliamentarians from around the world convened for the 2024 edition of the annual Parliamentary Hearing between the UN and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The hearing took place as negotiations are ongoing for the Pact of the Future and in anticipation of a Summit of the Future that UNGA President Dennis Francis describes as a “once in a generation opportunity” to fast-track transformative solutions for improved multilateralism. This year’s theme, “Putting an end to conflicts: Prescriptions for a peaceful future,” shaped two days of wide-ranging conversations.

IPI Vice President and COO Adam Lupel spoke at the first meeting of the 2024 Parliamentary Hearing on the panel “The Future of Peace and Security: From good intentions to a renewed collective action.” Dr. Lupel identified the decay of universal commitments to international law and normative constraints on the use of force as the principal strategic threats to peace and security. Building on the New Agenda for Peace’s three core principles of trust, solidarity, and universality, he discussed the corrosive effect that geopolitical divisions and interests have had. Commenting on parliaments’ place in promoting universality, Dr. Lupel said “If we want to rebuild our capacity for collective security, we must demand that our leaders are morally and practically consistent in the application of international norms and the protection of civilians so that all countries, all peoples, feel that the system is there for them. And I think parliaments are well placed to make that demand.” Dr. Lupel also stressed that parliaments need to take a long-term view of cultivating the positive conditions of peace and that they have several tools of conflict prevention, such as preventive diplomacy, accountability mechanisms against excessive use of force, and the integration of a diverse range of actors at all levels of decision making. Similarly, he placed extra emphasis on the pursuit of gender equality and the eradication of gender-based violence as a core goal of the New Agenda for Peace that Parliaments are well-placed to effectively champion and achieve.

Die Bundesregierung hat angekündigt, sich bei der Abstimmung zum EU-Lieferkettengesetz im EU-Rat diesen Freitag zu enthalten. Dazu ein Statement von Marcel Fratzscher, Präsident des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin):

Deutschland wird einen erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Schaden und Europa einen irreparablen politischen Schaden erleiden, falls das Lieferkettengesetz im EU-Rat keine Mehrheit findet. Doch die kurzsichtigen Interessen einiger deutscher Exportunternehmen scheinen sich wieder einmal durchzusetzen. Dabei hängt Deutschlands Wohlstand langfristig von verlässlichen Regeln und globalen Partnerschaften auf Augenhöhe ab. Unternehmensverbände argumentieren, ein Lieferkettengesetz wäre für Unternehmen zu kostspielig und würde sie in globalen Märkten an Wettbewerbsfähigkeit verlieren lassen. Das ist ethisch nicht vertretbar. Es ist auch aus wirtschaftlicher Perspektive nicht zu rechtfertigen, da deutsche Unternehmen trotz des Aufstiegs von China und asiatischer Niedriglohnländern ihren Marktanteil in den Weltmärkten behaupten konnten.

Die Enthaltung beim EU-Lieferkettengesetz ist nicht nur ein moralisches Versagen, sondern könnte langfristig vor allem der offenen deutschen Wirtschaft und ihrem wichtigsten Markenkern, der Reputation ihrer Produkte „Made in Germany“, schaden.

Green hydrogen (GH2) is gaining significant attention within the global energy landscape. As a clean and renewable energy carrier, GH2 holds the potential to  transform a number of sectors, spanning heavy industries to shipping and aviation. Its benefits are far-reaching, ranging from the reduction of greenhouse gas  emissions to reinforcing energy security and creating opportunities for green industrialization. However, to fully unlock GH2’s potential, an equitable distribution of its benefits to all is indispensable. Against this background, the report “GH2 for sustainable industrial development: A Policy Toolkit for Developing Countries”  reframes the prevailing narrative by shifting its focus away from the role of developing countries as producers and exporters in the future hydrogen market to  highlighting the significance of the hydrogen value chain for developing countries themselves.

Green hydrogen (GH2) is gaining significant attention within the global energy landscape. As a clean and renewable energy carrier, GH2 holds the potential to  transform a number of sectors, spanning heavy industries to shipping and aviation. Its benefits are far-reaching, ranging from the reduction of greenhouse gas  emissions to reinforcing energy security and creating opportunities for green industrialization. However, to fully unlock GH2’s potential, an equitable distribution of its benefits to all is indispensable. Against this background, the report “GH2 for sustainable industrial development: A Policy Toolkit for Developing Countries”  reframes the prevailing narrative by shifting its focus away from the role of developing countries as producers and exporters in the future hydrogen market to  highlighting the significance of the hydrogen value chain for developing countries themselves.

Green hydrogen (GH2) is gaining significant attention within the global energy landscape. As a clean and renewable energy carrier, GH2 holds the potential to  transform a number of sectors, spanning heavy industries to shipping and aviation. Its benefits are far-reaching, ranging from the reduction of greenhouse gas  emissions to reinforcing energy security and creating opportunities for green industrialization. However, to fully unlock GH2’s potential, an equitable distribution of its benefits to all is indispensable. Against this background, the report “GH2 for sustainable industrial development: A Policy Toolkit for Developing Countries”  reframes the prevailing narrative by shifting its focus away from the role of developing countries as producers and exporters in the future hydrogen market to  highlighting the significance of the hydrogen value chain for developing countries themselves.