On Wednesday, 9 December, the ambassadors of the 27 Member States to the EU (Coreper) approved the draft conclusions on digital transformation for the benefit of the environment; this is an environmental priority for the German EU Council Presidency and was already discussed by the environment ministers of the EU27 in July (see EUROPE 12527/2).
The Environment Council to be held on 17 December will therefore be able to adopt these conclusions and these will guide the European Commission in the implementation of all policies related to the EU’s dual transition – the digital transition and the transition to climate neutrality.
The agreed text emphasises that digitalisation is a tool that can be used to serve the objectives of the European Green Deal, for example in terms of data for predictions and modelling. It also emphasises, however, the need to ensure that the environmental footprint of new digital technologies and infrastructures is limited, whether that be in terms of waste or energy consumption.
In particular, it calls on the Commission to present an analysis by 2022 of the environmental impacts of digitalisation.
The European Commission will also be invited to present a digital product passport containing relevant information on the origin and composition of the product, its reusability, repairability, recyclability and environmental footprint (see EUROPE 12576/14). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)