Officials emphasize digitalization's role in low-carbon future, economic recovery

Officials have called for further efforts to tap the potential of digital transformation in promoting low-carbon transition and economic recovery amid the global climate crisis.

They made the remarks on Sunday at an event with the theme "Bridge Digital Divide, Build Climate Resilience" that was held at the China pavilion on the sidelines of the ongoing COP28 United Nations climate change conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The event was co-hosted by the Center For International Knowledge on Development, the Research Institute for Resources and Environment Policies and Alibaba Group.

Addressing the event, Liu Zhenmin, former UN undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, said digitalization and renewable energy development will be key drivers of global economic recovery.

Digitalization played an important role in driving the rapid development of renewable energy in the past decade, he said.

Aside from offering intelligent solutions to promote socioeconomic development, digital technology can also help build clean, low-carbon and highly efficient energy systems and facilitate system upgrades, he said.

Liu, a senior adviser to the Chinese delegation to COP28, said that by promoting the application of digital technologies in sectors that are major carbon emitters, such as energy, electricity generation, industry and transportation, "China has managed to effectively enhance efficiency in energy and resources consumption."

Long Guoqiang, vice-president of the State Council's Development Research Center, said: "Digital technology, if properly applied, can be a significant enabler for green transformation."

In smart power stations and grids, for instance, digital technology can greatly boost the efficiency of resource utilization and help accelerate energy transition, he said.