{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"climate_tags":["cloud computing"]},"warnings":[]},"total":{"value":18,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?climate_tags=cloud+computing","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"ember-000172","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/ember-000172","title":"New economic growth sectors need a clean power system","publisher":{"name":"Ember","organization":"ember"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2025-09-30","source_url":"https://ember-energy.org/chapter/new-economic-growth-sectors-need-a-clean-power-system/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Thailand's economic strategy to become a regional hub for electric vehicles (EVs) and data centres requires a rapid transition to clean energy to attract foreign investment and meet international low-carbon standards. The energy sector, which accounted for 69% of total emissions in 2019, is central to Thailand's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30-40% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Projections indicate that EVs could account for 20% of total electricity demand by 2037, while data centre demand is expected to grow at an 8% CAGR from 2025 to 2027, potentially adding 10 TWh by 2037. To support this, the Thai government has introduced a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) pilot project specifically for data centres of at least 50 MW, allowing them to bypass the single-buyer system and purchase renewable energy directly.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000172#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Thailand's climate targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below business-as-usual levels (approximately 388 million tonnes of carbon dioxide) by 2030, with a potential increase to 40% (333 MtCO2) if international support is provided. To reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the country must reduce emissions by 73-83% relative to 2015 levels.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000172#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The energy sector is the primary driver of emissions, representing about 69% of total emissions in 2019, with the power and transport sectors specifically accounting for up to 68% of total emissions in 2022.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000172#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is projected to significantly increase electricity demand, with EVs likely representing roughly 20% of total consumption (about 68 TWh) by 2037. Ember's analysis suggests the RPDP baseline may underestimate peak demand; a more realistic scenario could add 3,355 MW of extra peak demand, bringing the total to 57,901 MW by 2037.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000172#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Data centre electricity demand is forecast to grow at an 8% CAGR from 2025 to 2027, reaching 6 TWh by 2030 and potentially adding 10 TWh by 2037. To attract hyperscale investors like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, Thailand has approved a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) pilot project for data centres of at least 50 MW, with an expected total procurement capacity of 2,000 MW.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"ember-000172#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["renewable energy","energy storage","electric vehicle","data center","carbon neutrality","greenhouse gas emissions","electromobility","cloud computing","demand response"],"geography_discussed":["Malaysia","Indonesia","People's Republic of China","India","ASEAN"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","demand forecasting"]},{"id":"prio-001206","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/prio-001206","title":"Navigating digital transformation and geopolitical rivalry","publisher":{"name":"Peace Research Institute Oslo","organization":"peace-research-institute-oslo"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2025","source_url":"https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/ed6267f1-fea4-48bc-ad0f-935963c00c9e/Amador III et al Navigating digital transformation - PRIO Paper 2025.pdf?inline=true","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Philippines is pursuing digital transformation to drive economic growth, with its digital economy contributing 8.5% to GDP in 2024. However, the country lags behind ASEAN peers in infrastructure and digital literacy. This gap has been filled largely by Chinese investments via the Digital Silk Road, with companies like Huawei, Alibaba, and Tencent dominating sectors such as telecommunications, cloud computing, and fintech. While these investments provide essential capacity, they create security risks and sovereignty concerns, exacerbated by territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The paper recommends that the Philippines update its regulatory frameworks, adopt ASEAN-centric ICT norms, and pursue 'friendshoring' with allies like the US and Japan to reduce dependence on Chinese technology.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Philippines' digital infrastructure and readiness consistently lag behind its Southeast Asian neighbors, specifically Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"China's Digital Silk Road (DSR) has established a significant presence in the Philippines through investments in telecommunications, subsea cables, data centers, and financial technology.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Chinese technology firms hold dominant positions in critical Philippine digital sectors: Huawei provides hardware for major telecoms, Alibaba Cloud services over 200 domestic companies, and Tencent powers the PayMaya e-wallet.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Huawei has expanded its influence through informal technology transfers and outreach, including partnerships with 11 universities for training and ICT equipment as of 2020.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Philippines faces a strategic trade-off between the economic benefits of Chinese digital investments and security concerns driven by the South China Sea territorial dispute and a general public distrust of China.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Philippine security sector maintains a cautious 'Trust but verify' approach toward Chinese technology, particularly since 90% of the country's technologies are imported.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To maintain strategic autonomy, the authors recommend 'friendshoring' by sourcing technology from allies such as the US, Japan, and Australia to insulate the country from political shocks from Beijing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001206#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing","data center"],"geography_discussed":["People's Republic of China","United States","South China Sea","Japan","Australia"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["geopolitical analysis","policy assessment","economic analysis"]},{"id":"afripo-000195","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/afripo-000195","title":"What African countries can learn from the continent's top performers in e-government","publisher":{"name":"Africa Policy Research Institute","organization":"africa-policy-research-institute"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2024-07-04","source_url":"https://afripoli.org/what-african-countries-can-learn-from-the-continents-top-performers-in-e-government","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The paper analyzes e-government in Mauritius, South Africa, Seychelles, and Tunisia, arguing that a modular approach focusing on user experience can bypass the slow progress of traditional 'whole-of-government' strategies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Four African countries score above the global average in the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI): Mauritius, South Africa, Seychelles, and Tunisia.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Mauritius is identified as the top performer when operational criteria are prioritized, distinguished by its 'InfoHighway' platform which enables 'seamless, full data-sharing between government agencies' in real time.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"South Africa leads the four countries in overall EGDI scoring and possesses the continent's most extensive backbone network infrastructure, though it struggles with 'overlapping mandates' among institutions and incomplete transversal integration.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Seychelles excels in telecommunications infrastructure and digital literacy but its e-government approach is 'inward-looking', prioritizing internal government functions over outward-facing service delivery to citizens and businesses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Tunisia possesses a robust institutional framework and a highly educated population, but suffers from a 'fragmentation of approaches' and a lack of a clear, implemented digitization strategy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The authors propose a 'Levels of e-government' framework (comprising interface, data exchange, and infrastructure) to allow policymakers to adopt a modular approach, focusing on 'outside in' delivery to improve user experience in the short term rather than waiting for expensive, long-term 'whole-of-government' integration.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000195#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["Estonia","Morocco","United Kingdom","Australia","New Zealand","Gauteng","Western Cape"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["comparative analysis","case study","framework development"]},{"id":"prio-001492","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/prio-001492","title":"The Impact of China’s Digital Silk Road on the Digital Domain of the Philippines","publisher":{"name":"Peace Research Institute Oslo","organization":"peace-research-institute-oslo"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2024-06-12","source_url":"https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/bfb164c7-1383-45f5-9e81-66fa5c7f653c/ISEAS_Perspective_2024_43.pdf?inline=true","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Philippines is pursuing an ambitious digitalisation agenda under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but this effort is complicated by the pervasive influence of China's Digital Silk Road (DSR). While Chinese technology provides cheap alternatives in 5G, cloud computing, and fintech, it introduces significant risks regarding data privacy, national security, and the potential spread of digital authoritarianism. These challenges are exacerbated by an outdated legal framework that fails to address modern technological breakthroughs. The authors argue that the Philippines must update its legislation and diversify foreign investment to build internal resilience and safeguard its digital sovereignty.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Philippines' digital economy is growing rapidly, with its internet economy valued at USD 7.5 billion in 2020 and projected to reach USD 28 billion by 2025, growing at an annual rate of 30 percent.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"China's Digital Silk Road (DSR) has led to a heavy influx of Chinese technology into the Philippines, specifically dominating 5G telecommunications and introducing cloud-based and financial technologies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The adoption of Chinese technology, such as the DITO project and the 'Safe Philippines' surveillance initiative, creates national security risks due to the Chinese National Intelligence Law of 2017, which may require companies to provide data to the Chinese government.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Philippines' legal framework is outdated and fails to address modern technologies like AI, quantum computing, and cloud technology, with some laws like the 1995 Public Telecommunications Law lacking substantial provisions on the internet.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There are concerns that China is using the DSR to export a model of 'technology-driven authoritarianism,' utilizing tools like content moderation, data localisation, and surveillance to control citizens.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Philippines is currently the third most expensive provider of ICT services among all ASEAN countries, and its bureaucratic processes hinder the entry of new investors and competitors.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001492#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["People's Republic of China","ASEAN"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","geopolitical analysis"]},{"id":"prio-001700","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/prio-001700","title":"UNDERSTANDING CONTESTED NORMS ON INDONESIA’S DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY","publisher":{"name":"Peace Research Institute Oslo","organization":"peace-research-institute-oslo"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2024","source_url":"https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5bcfdd50-896f-4e49-aa8e-438600b929fb/Research_report_CSISPRIO.pdf?inline=true","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report examines how Indonesia navigates the rivalry between US-led market-driven digital norms and China's government-centric approach. While Indonesia relies heavily on foreign hardware and cloud services, it leverages its democratic values, the Pancasila ideology, and an independent foreign policy to maintain agency. The study identifies a 'digital norms cycle' in Indonesia, moving from the emergence of norms via foreign 'norm entrepreneurs' to internalization through national frameworks, though it notes significant challenges in digital literacy, budget, and infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Indonesia's digital landscape is a site of competition between US norms of \"multistakeholderism, openness and market-driven internet\" and Chinese norms that \"lean more toward government control of technology and information.\"","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Indonesia is a net importer of technology, with a significant reliance on China for electrical equipment and parts, which grew from approximately 40% in 2017 to approximately 60% by 2022.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Indonesian smartphone market is dominated by Chinese brands (OPPO, Xiaomi, Realme, and Vivo), which grew from around 40% market share in mid-2019 to around 60% in mid-2023.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"While hardware is dominated by China, US-based platforms maintain strong leverage in social media, with WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram remaining among the most popular platforms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Indonesia's reliance on foreign technology varies by sector: it is 'moderate' for digital applications and software, but 'relatively high' for telecommunications infrastructure, base transceiver stations (BTS), servers, and cloud services.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Indonesia possesses 'inherent modalities' that enable it to shape its own digital norms, including robust democratic values, the state ideology of Pancasila, an \"independent and active\" foreign policy, a growing middle class, and the use of Bahasa Indonesia.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report identifies a 'digital norms cycle' in Indonesia: Stage 1 (emergence) driven by US and Chinese 'norm entrepreneurs'; Stage 2 (cascade) accelerated by the 2020 national digital transformation; and Stage 3 (internalization) through embedding in national doctrines.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Significant challenges hinder Indonesia's digital sovereignty, including low digital literacy, 'contested sectoral ego' between ministries (such as MOCI and MLHR), and severe budget constraints for the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"prio-001700#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["United States","People's Republic of China","European Union"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["qualitative analysis","case study"]},{"id":"iai-001026","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/iai-001026","title":"Summary report of activities by the IAI Directorate during the 2022-2023 intersessional period","publisher":{"name":"Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research","organization":"inter-american-institute-for-global-change-research"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2023-05-15","source_url":"https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-CoP-31-13-en.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The IAI Directorate reported progress in integrating gender and equity into scientific projects, enhancing the science-policy interface through the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) and STeP fellowships, and implementing regional climate and health initiatives. Key achievements include the launch of a climate and health responder course for Latin America, the publication of a compendium on climate impacts in the LAC region, and the development of a drought information system for Southern South America. The Directorate also expanded its collaborative research actions with the Belmont Forum and established partnerships with organizations like the WMO and PAHO to improve climate risk assessments and early warning systems.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The IAI Directorate established a Gender and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee that developed an implementation plan, making EDI plans a requirement for all grants and providing training for grantees and STeP fellows.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To strengthen the science-policy interface, the IAI launched the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) for the Americas in late 2022 to serve as a regional reference center for capacity building and governance mechanisms related to global environmental change.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Science and Technology Policy (STeP) Fellowships Program expanded from 17 fellows in four countries to 64 fellows across 13 countries, providing training in science diplomacy and leadership to early and mid-career scientists.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI implemented a 'Climate and Health Responder Course for Latin America' in partnership with PAHO and the Global Consortium on Climate & Health Education, involving 25 transdisciplinary teams from 14 countries.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Directorate published the first IAI compendium on the Impacts of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean, which consists of 12 Op-Eds written by STeP fellows and investigators.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI is administering the Drought Information System for Southern South America (SISSA), which provides drought monitoring and risk management tools for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI strengthened its engagement with the Belmont Forum through Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs), including projects on 'Pathways to sustainability 1' and 'Migration and Mobility', and is co-leading a new CRA on 'Amazonia and Tropical Forests'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001026#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","energy transition","Climate risk assessment","early warning system","capacity building","cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["Panama","Jamaica","Uruguay","Dominica","Brazil","Argentina","Chile","Colombia","Mexico","Ecuador","Canada","Barbados","Saint Lucia","Grenada","Dominican Republic","United States","Bolivia","Paraguay","Guatemala"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["activity report","progress review"]},{"id":"iai-001027","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/iai-001027","title":"Informe resumido de las actividades de la Dirección Ejecutiva del IAI durante el período entre sesiones 2022-2023","publisher":{"name":"Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research","organization":"inter-american-institute-for-global-change-research"},"document_type":"report","language":"es","date_published":"2023-05-15","source_url":"https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-CoP-31-13-es.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The IAI Executive Direction reports progress across science, capacity building, and strategic implementation between 2022 and 2023. Key achievements include the establishment of a Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) committee, the launch of the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC), and the expansion of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program to 64 fellows from 13 countries. The IAI also advanced regional initiatives on the climate-health nexus, drought information systems in South America, and collaborative research through the Belmont Forum. Strategic partnerships were strengthened with organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to enhance climate risk assessment and science-policy interfaces in the Americas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The IAI established a Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) committee that developed an implementation plan for the GEDI policy. This policy now requires an EDI plan for all grant applications and provides EDI training for STeP fellows.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program expanded significantly, growing from 17 fellows in 4 countries in its first year to 64 fellows from 13 countries by the 2022-2023 period.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI launched the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) for the Americas to serve as a regional reference for science diplomacy, including capacity building and the development of national governance mechanisms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI implemented a training program on the Climate, Environment, and Health nexus, including a virtual course for Latin America with 25 transdisciplinary teams from 14 countries and a face-to-face workshop in San Martín de los Andes in March 2023 involving nearly 100 experts from 20 countries.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI is managing the 'South South America Drought Information System' (SISSA), funded by EUROCLIMA+ and AECID, which provides drought tools and information for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Collaborations with the Belmont Forum resulted in several Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs), including the selection of one project on sustainability (Fish2Sustainability) and three projects on Migration and Mobility in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The IAI strengthened its partnership with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) through a memorandum of understanding to improve access to high-quality hydrometeorological and climate data, specifically supporting early warning systems.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iai-001027#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["climate change","Climate risk assessment","early warning system","capacity building","environmental policy","cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["Argentina","Bolivia","Brazil","Chile","Paraguay","Uruguay","Mexico","Peru","Jamaica","Dominican Republic","Barbados","United States","Costa Rica","Panama","Colombia","Canada","Ecuador","Guatemala","San Martín de los Andes","Punta del Este","Washington, D.C."],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["activity report","strategic implementation review"]},{"id":"wacc-000088","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wacc-000088","title":"Digital Justice: Manifesto: A Call to Own Our Digital Future","publisher":{"name":"World Association for Christian Communication","organization":"world-association-for-christian-communication"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2022-11-15","source_url":"https://waccglobal.org/digital-justice-manifesto-a-call-to-own-our-digital-future-2/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Just Net Coalition's manifesto argues that the 'intelligencification' of society has led to unprecedented economic and political control by a few global 'intelligence corporations' that monopolize data and cloud computing techno-structures. The document calls for a fundamental shift in power, asserting that data subjects must own their data individually and collectively and that key digital infrastructures should be governed as public utilities. It proposes 16 principles to achieve digital justice, including the decentralization of techno-structures, the breaking of global digital monopolies, and the establishment of public-interest bodies to develop digital standards. The manifesto emphasizes a 'local-to-global' governance architecture where national polities remain the anchors of self-determination and data is processed close to its point of origin.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The current digital economy is characterized by 'intelligencification,' where global 'intelligence corporations' use cloud computing to monopolize data and control various sectors including health, education, transport, and commerce.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Data is identified as a key economic resource that is currently harvested without permission by corporations; the manifesto argues that legal frameworks must be established to ensure individuals and communities own their data.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document advocates for the creation of 'common property regimes' for data and intelligence commons to prevent abuse, overuse, and pollution, treating them as 'common pool resources'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Workers and economic groups who contribute significant data to platforms, such as taxi drivers or farmers, should have primary economic rights and a role in the governance of those platforms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To increase user control, the manifesto proposes a 'local-to-global architecture' where data is processed close to its origin and cross-border data flows are decided by the national community of origin.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Key digital infrastructures, such as search engines, social networks, and payment services, should be governed as public utilities regardless of whether they are provided by private businesses.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The manifesto calls for the breakup of global digital monopolies through competition regimes that focus on cutting problematic links in data and intelligence value chains rather than just consumer welfare.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Digital technical standards should be reclaimed from private corporations and developed exclusively by neutral, public-interest bodies under the oversight of people's representatives.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000088#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":[],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy proposal","manifesto"]},{"id":"afripo-000067","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/afripo-000067","title":"AI in Africa: Key Concerns and Policy Considerations for the Future of the Continent","publisher":{"name":"Africa Policy Research Institute","organization":"africa-policy-research-institute"},"document_type":"policy brief","language":"en","date_published":"2022-05-30","source_url":"https://afripoli.org/ai-in-africa-key-concerns-and-policy-considerations-for-the-future-of-the-continent","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document examines the impact of AI in Africa, highlighting risks such as predatory data use in South Africa, surveillance in Uganda, and the exploitation of 'click work' in Kenyan refugee camps. It reviews national AI strategies in Egypt, Mauritius, and Rwanda, and the SMARTAfrica Blueprint, while cautioning against the uncritical transfer of EU regulatory models like the GDPR. The author recommends that African governments focus on building sustainable local AI ecosystems, enhancing digital skills for women, and establishing regional cooperation to regulate multinational tech monopolies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"AI production involves African natural resources and labour, yet the economic benefits are primarily captured by China and 'Big Tech companies of the Global North'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"AI-driven digital ID and biometric systems in Africa have been used for predatory financial practices and state surveillance. In South Africa, the company Net1 used data from 18 million social grant beneficiaries to create 'targeted and predatory financial offers', while in Uganda, Huawei-developed facial recognition was used during the 2020 elections to 'identify, track down and arrest supporters of the opposition leader, Bobi Wine'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The global AI economy has created precarious labour markets in Africa, including 'click work' in refugee camps like Dadaab in Kenya, where residents perform data labelling for Big Tech without 'fair labour rights or protections'. Additionally, gig economy workers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia face limited job security and 'intrusive surveillance methods'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"China is the primary exporter of AI technologies to Africa through the 'Digital Silk Road Initiative' and the 'Belt and Road Initiative', with 40 of 54 African countries signing agreements by May 2021 that introduced 5G, cloud computing, and surveillance infrastructure.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Several African nations have established AI frameworks: Mauritius (2018) focused on healthcare, fintech, and agriculture; Egypt (2021) prioritised national developmental goals across four pillars; and Rwanda (expected 2022) focused on enablers and safeguards. SMARTAfrica also published a 'Blueprint on Artificial Intelligence for Africa' in 2021.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is a growing trend toward 'data localisation' in Africa, exemplified by the Kenyan Data Protection Act 2019 and South Africa's Draft Data and Cloud Policy, which require copies of data to be stored domestically to drive local innovation and economic growth.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The application of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Africa may create a 'two levels of data protection' system where European data processed in Africa is better protected than African data, and the high technical costs of compliance may 'deny the entry' of local start-ups into international markets.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"AI automation poses a disproportionate risk to African women, who often hold low-skilled, repetitive roles; however, current reskilling programs often ignore the 'daily realities of women' and the 'growing digital gender divide'.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"afripo-000067#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["Egypt","Mauritius","Rwanda","Kenya","Nigeria","South Africa","Namibia","Uganda","Cape Town","Dadaab","European Union","People's Republic of China"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","socio-economic assessment"]},{"id":"rmi-001101","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-001101","title":"The Revolution Will Be Digitized","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2021-02","source_url":"https://rmi.org/app/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/03/rmi_the_revolution_will_be_digitized.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document argues that the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution'—characterized by AI, cloud computing, and IoT—is providing the tools necessary to overcome legacy modeling and accelerate decarbonization. It identifies data and transparency as one of six key market catalysts and provides examples of how corporations (Tesla), cities (Shenzhen), and financial instruments (Sustainability Linked Loans) are leveraging data to reduce emissions and capture economic value. The brief concludes with recommendations for policymakers, corporations, and financial institutions to integrate climate-relevant data into their strategic decision-making to mitigate risk and seize a projected $26 trillion economic opportunity by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Data and advanced analytics serve as one of six 'market catalysts'—alongside finance, technology, business models, education and capacity building, and policy—that can accelerate the energy transition by lowering barriers and crossing activation energy thresholds.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' is driving decarbonization through three macro trends: a massive increase in the volume and variety of data (with humans creating nine times more data from 2015 to 2017 than in all prior years), improved access and transparency, and an exponential increase in computing power.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Sustainability Linked Loans (SLLs) use data transparency to connect financing to sustainability KPIs, rewarding companies that meet targets with favorable interest rates. The global SLL market grew from $5 billion in 2017 to $137 billion in 2019.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In Shenzhen, China, a telematics-based data framework enabled the city to scale its electric logistics vehicle (ELV) fleet from 300 in 2015 to over 70,000 in 2019 by using vehicle utilization metrics to optimize charging infrastructure and policy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Tesla leverages big data and machine learning to improve vehicle performance and implement features via Over the Air (OTA) updates, which reduces emissions by avoiding hundreds of thousands of vehicle miles driven for servicing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"New data-driven solution providers are creating specialized tools for the transition: WattTime uses real-time grid data to synchronize device usage with clean energy; Cervest provides asset-level climate risk signals; and Circulor uses blockchain for supply chain traceability of materials like cobalt and tantalum.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The energy transition presents a massive financial opportunity, estimated at $26 trillion in economic benefits through 2030, which financial institutions can capture by integrating climate-related risk metrics into portfolio decisions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-001101#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["energy transition","cloud computing","blockchain","electric vehicle","climate finance","Global supply chain governance","carbon accounting","sustainable procurement","1.5 degree Celsius climate target"],"geography_discussed":["Shenzhen","People's Republic of China","India","Copenhagen","Belgium","United States","South Africa","Netherlands","Germany","Ghana","United Kingdom","Rwanda","European Union"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","strategic framework"]},{"id":"wacc-000057","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wacc-000057","title":"Digital justice manifesto: A call to own our digital future","publisher":{"name":"World Association for Christian Communication","organization":"world-association-for-christian-communication"},"document_type":"statement","language":"en","date_published":"2020-08-17","source_url":"https://waccglobal.org/digital-justice-manifesto-a-call-to-own-our-digital-future/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The Digital Justice Manifesto, launched by the Just Net Coalition, calls for the reclamation of digital power from 'intelligence corporations'. It proposes 16 principles centered on the individual and collective ownership of data, the treatment of key digital infrastructures as public utilities, and the democratic governance of datafication from a local-to-global perspective.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The document argues that data is a key economic resource currently appropriated by corporations without permission, and asserts that data subjects must own their data both individually and collectively.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The manifesto identifies 'intelligence corporations' as global businesses that use AI and cloud computing to control various sectors, including health, education, transport, and commerce, while avoiding accountability through remote operation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The authors call for key digital infrastructures—such as search engines, social networks, payment services, and e-commerce platforms—to be governed as public utilities, even if they are provided by private companies.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The manifesto advocates for the decentralisation of techno-structures, including AI applications and cloud computing, and the mandating of interoperability to redistribute digital power.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document proposes that national communities should determine the terms of cross-border data flows and that data should remain under the primary jurisdiction of its country of origin.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The manifesto suggests that workers in data-producing jobs, such as taxi drivers on platforms or farmers on agri-platforms, should have primary economic rights and ownership over the data they contribute.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The authors argue that global data monopolies should be broken up by national and international competition regimes that focus on cutting problematic links in data and intelligence value chains.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document calls for the development of digital technical standards to be reclaimed by public interest bodies to prevent the end-to-end control currently held by corporations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wacc-000057#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["Berlin","New Delhi"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy proposal","manifesto"]},{"id":"wmbco-000008","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wmbco-000008","title":"Company Profile: Salesforce","publisher":{"name":"We Mean Business Coalition","organization":"we-mean-business-coalition"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2019-09-19","source_url":"https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/company-profile-salesforce/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Salesforce has achieved net-zero greenhouse gas emissions since financial year 2018 and aims for 100% renewable electricity for global operations by 2022. The company is implementing net-zero carbon building standards by 2030 and requires 50% of its suppliers by emissions to set reduction targets by 2025.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wmbco-000008#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Salesforce has reached net-zero greenhouse gas emissions since financial year 2018, utilizing a combination of offsets and emission reductions. The company reported fiscal year 2019 revenue of $13.28 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase, while maintaining its net-carbon neutral status.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wmbco-000008#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The company aims to source 100% renewable electricity for its global operations by 2022 through RE100. In financial year 2019, it reached 55% renewable electricity procurement, following a rise from 35% in 2016 to 50% in 2017. Specific projects include a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement for 80 megawatts of wind energy in Illinois via the Bright Stalk Project signed in 2018.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wmbco-000008#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Salesforce has established several operational and supply chain targets: it intends to occupy only net-zero carbon buildings by 2030, ensure all major new office interiors align with LEED Platinum v4 standards after 2020, and ensure 50% of its suppliers by emissions have set reduction targets by 2025.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wmbco-000008#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The company is investing $10 million in climate startups and entrepreneurs by 2022 and plans to expand its internal carbon price by 2020 to offset all employee commuting and business travel emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wmbco-000008#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["renewable electricity","Net-zero emissions","sustainable architecture","climate finance","water security","cloud computing","wind energy"],"geography_discussed":["San Francisco","Illinois"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["corporate profile"]},{"id":"saiia-001508","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/saiia-001508","title":"SOUTH AFRICA AND DATA FLOWS","publisher":{"name":"South African Institute of International Affairs","organization":"south-african-institute-of-international-affairs"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2018-04","source_url":"https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/GA_Th3_DP-Ferracane_20180411.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document examines the global landscape of data flow restrictions, specifically comparing the regimes of BRICS nations. It argues that data localisation—requiring data to be stored or processed within a specific jurisdiction—imposes significant costs on productivity, innovation, and GDP. For South Africa, the author recommends maintaining its current conditional flow regime while pursuing further liberalisation at a regional level to become a data processing hub, rather than adopting the strict localisation policies seen in China and Russia.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Data localisation measures are increasing globally, with the number of such measures more than doubling between 2008 and 2017.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Among BRICS nations, China and Russia implement the most restrictive regimes, prioritising security and public order over economic gains, while South Africa, India, and Brazil generally allow freer data flows.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Data localisation does not significantly increase employment, as data centres are highly automated and create few full-time jobs relative to their cost.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Forced data localisation increases processing costs for local firms; in Brazil, using local cloud servers instead of the cheapest global alternatives could cost 30\u001360% more.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Macroeconomic simulations by ECIPE indicate that data restrictions lead to substantial GDP losses across several countries, including China (-1.1%), the EU (-0.4%), and Vietnam (-1.7%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Data localisation can compromise security by limiting the choice of service providers and increasing vulnerability to natural disasters due to a lack of geographic data replication.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"South Africa currently operates a conditional flow regime under the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act 4 of 2013, which allows transfers if the recipient has adequate protection or the subject consents.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The author suggests South Africa should avoid new restrictions and instead consider liberalising data flows within the Southern African Customs Union and SADC FTAs to become a regional data hub.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"WTO jurisprudence, specifically regarding GATS, suggests that data localisation measures may violate commitments on market access and national treatment.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"saiia-001508#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["trade policy","cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["People's Republic of China","Russia","Brazil","India","European Union","United States","Vietnam","South Korea","Indonesia"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic impact assessment","comparative policy analysis","legal review"]},{"id":"cdkn-000129","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cdkn-000129","title":"Emerging technologies - new opportunities for climate compatible development","publisher":{"name":"Climate and Development Knowledge Network","organization":"climate-and-development-knowledge-network"},"document_type":"research paper","language":"en","date_published":"2017-11-01","source_url":"https://cdkn.org/resource/working-paper-emerging-technologies-new-opportunities-climate-compatible-development","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document discusses the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to advance climate-resilient, low-carbon development in developing countries, specifically in relation to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cdkn-000129#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a dynamic economic transformation driven by disruptive technologies and business models that is expected to have profound economic, social, and environmental impacts over the coming decades.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cdkn-000129#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Emerging 4IR technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of things, autonomous vehicles, and advanced materials, are advancing at an unprecedented speed, scope, and scale.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cdkn-000129#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The ability of developing countries to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) depends on the role of policy-makers, development planners, and other stakeholders in harnessing 4IR technologies to maximize benefits and minimize transition risks.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cdkn-000129#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["Nationally Determined Contributions","Paris Agreement","Low carbon development","sustainable development","cloud computing","autonomous vehicle","Sustainable Development Goals"],"geography_discussed":[],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","technological assessment"]},{"id":"iisd-001516","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/iisd-001516","title":"ICTs, the Internet and Sustainability: Where Next?","publisher":{"name":"International Institute for Sustainable Development","organization":"international-institute-for-sustainable-development"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2012-10","source_url":"https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/icts_sd_where_next.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report examines how ICTs impact sustainability across first, second, and third-order effects. It criticizes the Rio+20 summit for failing to systematically address the information society and calls for a new, multistakeholder approach to bridge the paradigm gap between the ICT and sustainable development communities.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The impact of ICTs on sustainability is categorized into four levels: first-order (direct physical impacts), second-order (indirect impacts from use), rebound effects (behavioral changes), and third-order (long-term aggregated societal outcomes).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"First-order effects of ICTs are generally positive for economic prosperity and social equity but strongly negative for the environment due to waste, short device life cycles, and rising greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and data centers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Second-order effects offer potential for large-scale carbon reductions through 'smart systems' in energy, transport, and manufacturing, though adoption is hindered by the cost-effectiveness of investments in those non-ICT sectors.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Third-order societal effects involve profound structural changes to human experience, including the globalization of labor markets, the virtualization of goods, and altered relationships between citizens and states through automated surveillance.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Rio+20 summit and its outcome document, 'The Future We Want', failed to systematically recognize the impact of the information revolution on sustainability, treating ICTs only as incidental tools for specific applications.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A significant 'paradigm gap' exists between ICT professionals and sustainable development practitioners, leading to a failure to adapt sustainability notions to the characteristics of the Information Society.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Mitigating the environmental impact of ICTs requires addressing 'churn'—the short 2-3 year life cycle of devices—and improving the energy efficiency of data centers and cloud computing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report argues that traditional UN summit processes are no longer effective for achieving breakthroughs, as they prioritize lowest-common-denominator consensus in outcome documents over meaningful progress.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To bridge the gap between ICTs and sustainability, the report suggests moving toward multistakeholder models, such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) or small expert commissions, rather than large-scale diplomatic summits.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-001516#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["sustainable development","greenhouse gas emissions","energy efficiency","climate change adaptation","cloud computing","digital divide","green economy","planetary boundary"],"geography_discussed":["Rio de Janeiro","Canada","United States","Paris","Dubai","Azerbaijan","Geneva"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy assessment","societal impact analysis","environmental impact assessment"]},{"id":"iisd-000807","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/iisd-000807","title":"University Data Centres: Policy and business case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions","publisher":{"name":"International Institute for Sustainable Development","organization":"international-institute-for-sustainable-development"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2010-09-23","source_url":"https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/university-data-centres-policy-and-business-case-reducing-greenhouse-gas","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report evaluates three scenarios for reducing the carbon footprint of university data centres: relocation to zero-carbon facilities, relocation to low-emission urban grids with waste heat recovery, and modifying existing centres for waste heat capture. Analysis of three universities showed that only the University of Alberta's waste heat capture scenario yielded a positive net present value (NPV) from carbon credit sales. The combined annual carbon footprint for the studied centres was 11,305 tonnes of CO2e. The study concludes that while individual university projects are generally not economically attractive via carbon credits, a green community cloud operated by CANARIE offers a more viable economic and leadership opportunity.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-000807#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The combined annual carbon footprint for the three evaluated main ICT data centres was 11,305 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), with specific contributions from the University of Alberta (5,288), Dalhousie (5,010), and Ottawa (1,007).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-000807#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Of the three scenarios investigated—relocation to zero-carbon facilities, relocation to low-emission urban grids with waste heat use, and modifying existing centres for waste heat capture—only the third scenario for the University of Alberta resulted in a positive net present value (NPV) from the sale of carbon credits.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-000807#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["greenhouse gas emissions","carbon offset","data center","renewable energy","waste heat recovery","carbon footprint","cloud computing"],"geography_discussed":["Ottawa","Dalhousie","Alberta"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["feasibility study","economic analysis","carbon footprint analysis"]},{"id":"iisd-002309","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/iisd-002309","title":"University Data Centres: Policy and business case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions","publisher":{"name":"International Institute for Sustainable Development","organization":"international-institute-for-sustainable-development"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2010-09","source_url":"https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/university_data_centres.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The study examines three scenarios for greening data centres at Dalhousie University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Alberta. It finds that relocating to remote renewable sites (Scenario 1) or urban low-emission grids (Scenario 2) is economically unviable due to high capital costs. Only on-site waste heat recovery (Scenario 3) showed a positive net present value for one institution. The report suggests a 'green community cloud' managed by CANARIE as a more viable alternative to individual university efforts.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Relocating data centres to remote, zero-carbon facilities (Scenario 1) is financially unattractive, with negative net present values (NPVs) for all three universities: $(8,535,093) for Ottawa, $(6,968,567) for Dalhousie, and $(8,448,132) for Alberta.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Relocating data centres to urban settings in provinces with low-emission grids and waste heat utilization (Scenario 2) also resulted in negative NPVs, ranging from $(2,682,716) for Dalhousie to $(3,616,477) for Alberta.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Modifying existing data centres to capture and utilize waste heat (Scenario 3) was the most economically attractive option, producing a positive NPV of $189,579 for the University of Alberta, though results remained negative for Ottawa and Dalhousie.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Revenue from the sale of carbon credits is generally insufficient to offset the high capital and operating costs of relocating university data centres to remote renewable locations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The report proposes a 'green community cloud'—a shared data centre infrastructure operated by CANARIE in a low-emission province—as a more economically beneficial alternative that leverages economies of scale and virtualization.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A proposed community cloud for the three studied universities in an urban location like Montréal would cost approximately $21,000,000 to construct and set up, with estimated annual operating costs of $2,900,000.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The study identifies significant barriers to remote relocation, including concerns over data security, the management of remote sites, and the fact that many university ICT assets are fragmented across various departments.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"iisd-002309#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["data center","greenhouse gas emissions","carbon offset","renewable energy","hydroelectricity","waste heat recovery","cloud computing","carbon emission trading","emission trading","energy efficiency"],"geography_discussed":["University of Ottawa","Dalhousie University","University of Alberta","Montreal","United States","Ontario","Quebec","British Columbia","Manitoba"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["economic feasibility analysis","carbon footprinting","policy review"]},{"id":"wri-001826","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wri-001826","title":"Three decades of measuring, monitoring and protecting the world’s forests","publisher":{"name":"World Resources Institute","organization":"world-resources-institute"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":null,"source_url":"https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2025-11/stories-changed-world-global-forest-watch.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The report describes the transition of Global Forest Watch from GFW 1.0, which relied on laborious manual data collection and paper maps in pilot countries, to GFW 2.0, a transformative online platform launched in 2014. Developed through a partnership between the World Resources Institute, Google, and the University of Maryland, GFW 2.0 utilizes satellite data and cloud computing to provide near real-time deforestation alerts. The platform is used by corporations like Nestlé and Unilever to clean supply chains, by indigenous communities to protect ancestral lands, and by civil society to fight illegal logging. Notably, the document highlights that communities in Peru using GFW have reduced deforestation rates by at least 58%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Global Forest Watch 1.0 began in 1997 and focused on four pilot countries: Cameroon, Gabon, Indonesia, and Canada, using manual measurements and paper maps.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The launch of GFW 2.0 in 2014 shifted forest monitoring to a democratic, transparent model using cloud computing and satellite imagery, allowing anyone to identify deforestation anywhere on the planet.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Major corporations, including Cargill, Unilever, Nestlé, and various banks, utilize GFW to ensure their supply chains for cocoa, palm oil, soy, and beef are deforestation-free.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Indigenous communities have used GFW to protect their lands, with evidence suggesting they are more effective protectors of forests than governments, environmental groups, or protected areas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"In Peru, the use of GFW by local communities has led to a reduction in deforestation rates of at least 58%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"GFW was used to hold companies accountable for land-clearing fires in Indonesia that caused smoke to drift into Singapore by overlaying NASA fire alerts with company concession data.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001826#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["deforestation","cloud computing","illegal logging"],"geography_discussed":["Cameroon","Gabon","Indonesia","Canada","Republic of the Congo","Peru","Singapore","Brazil"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","historical review"]}]}