Advancing Digital Environmental Sustainability for SDG Implementation: Aligning the Global Digital Compact with the HLPF

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Thursday, 16 July 2026 /// 13:15 - 14:30 ET /// UN Headquarters (CR-4)

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Background

Digital technologies present a fundamental paradox for sustainable development: they are simultaneously powerful accelerators of progress across all SDGs and growing consumers of environmental resources. As the world increasingly relies on digital solutions to address global challenges, we must ensure these technologies serve rather than undermine the 2030 Agenda.

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The 2026 HLPF provides a critical platform to address this duality. This official side event focuses on the environmental sustainability dimension, exploring three interconnected aspects of digital development:

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First, it examines digital opportunities and risks for this year's focus SDGs (6, 7, 9, 11, 16). Technologies such as AI and Digital Public Infrastructure can drive significant progress, yet they also increase energy demand and material and water consumption and generate e-waste—impacts requiring urgent mitigation.

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Second, it explores practical ways to better align digital governance with sustainable development processes, including operationalizing the Global Digital Compact's Paragraph 73 mandate for HLPF to review digital implementation, ensuring innovations like AI, DPI, and smart systems support SDG progress while addressing their environmental footprint across water management, energy systems, infrastructure development, and smart cities.

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Third, it opens discussion on strengthening the digital perspective in the Beyond 2030 architecture—a - a critical juncture that will be critically informed by the next Global Sustainable Development Report and the SDG Summit in 2027.

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The event is co-organized by the International Science Council (ISC) and the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES), a global partnership initiative co-led by ISC, Future Earth, UNEP, UNDP, ITU, Kenyan Tech Envoy, and the German Environment Agency.

Event Objectives

• Highlight digital opportunities and risks for 2026 HLPF focus SDGs
• Pinpoint status and options to bring digital into HLPF processes
• Open the discussion on how to strengthen digital into the Beyond 2030 architecture

Speakers

• Cassie Flynn, Director, Planet Hub, UNDP
• Túlio Andrade, COP30 Chief Strategy and Alignment Officer 
• Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Co-Chair, UN Global Sustainable Development Report 
• Riefqah Jappie, Senior Liaison Officer, ITU Liaison Office to the United Nations, New York
• Francesco Stabilito, UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET)
• Dr. Marcel Dorsch, Senior Expert, CODES and German Environment Agency (UBA)
• Mr. Riad Meddeb, Head of Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (UNDP)
• Prof. Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and research professor at the City University of New York (CUNY)

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