Focus on digital transformation to accelerate global carbon reduction
With the advancement of Internet technology and the acceleration of digital transformation, the demand for computing resources in data centers is growing rapidly. The rapid development of the cloud computing industry has become a key driver of the current digital economy. But the consequent increase in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has also increased dramatically. Therefore, reducing one's own carbon footprint and helping users reduce carbon emissions have become important areas of exploration for cloud computing services.
On December 10, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) ushered in the "Digital Transformation Theme Day".
At the side event on "Digital Economy and Low-Carbon Development" held on the same day, Zhao Bing, Deputy Director of the Counsellors' Office of the State Council, said that digital technology is widely used and plays an increasingly important role in improving the efficiency of environmental governance, innovating models, supporting high-level protection of the ecological environment, forming green and low-carbon production and lifestyle, and promoting the conversion of old and new kinetic energy.
At the side event on "Bridging the Digital Divide and Building Climate Resilience", Liu Zhenmin, Senior Adviser to the Chinese Delegation and former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that at present, "digitalization" and "greening" are the main themes of global economic recovery. The in-depth development of digitalization has greatly changed the traditional mode of production and development, and also plays an important role in the global response to climate change. China has made certain achievements in developing digital technologies to promote green and low-carbon transformation. Through systematic planning to build a smart energy system and the transformation and upgrading of intelligent and green industries, we have vigorously promoted the deep integration of digital technology with key carbon emission fields such as energy and power, industry, transportation, and buildings, effectively improving the efficiency of energy and resource use. He said that bridging the digital divide and building climate resilience is both an opportunity and a challenge, and requires the cooperation and joint efforts of all countries in the world under the framework of sustainable development, so that the fruits of digital technology development can benefit more and more equitable for all.
Benhong Dong, President of Strategic Development of Alibaba Group, believes that the disruptive innovation and application needed to combat climate change are inseparable from digitalization, and Alibaba has made strengthening digital technology innovation and building a broad ecosystem of digital platform participants a core strategy for climate response. This not only helps companies protect against their own risks, but is also a strategic choice to stimulate innovation potential, promote carbon reduction at scale, and gain access to new business opportunities.
On the day of the Digital Transformation Theme Day, Alibaba also released the first Scope 3+ Carbon Reduction Scenario Report - "Alibaba Scope 3+ Scenario Report - Green Cloud Computing Empowers Carbon Reduction", and shared practical samples of digitalization to help carbon reduction, such as the cover paper of Science magazine based on Ele.me's "no utensils" practice, Hema "Elephant Honey" to alleviate human-elephant conflicts, and Xianyu's eco-friendly cushion made of recycled clothes.
Peter Barker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), praised Alibaba's green decarbonization practices. He believes that as Asia's largest e-commerce and digital technology company, Alibaba's participation will bring powerful digital technology and rich ecological scenarios to global sustainable development.
