Mittweida, 31 March: The boundaries between physical and digital reality are blurring. What does that mean — now and in the future? A panel discussion, titled “Brave New World”, at Mittweida University examined hybrid solutions for climate change. IT4Forest-affiliated Professor Jan‑Peter Mund spoke with Prof Dr Grischa Beier, Prof Dr Simon Glöser‑Chahoud and Prof Dr Inga‑Maria Eichentopf.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, with far-reaching ecological, social and economic consequences. The possible solutions are as multifaceted as the problem itself.

The panel agreed, digital innovation has altered our lives. Mobile phone and internet connectivity have transformed the way we communicate, produce, trade and consume. Digitalisation has spurred global trade and investments by improving the ability and speed in which large amounts of data can be exchanged, processed and analysed. With its push for dematerialisation, digitalisation intrinsically aligns to the principles of sustainability, promoting resource and energy efficiency.

At the same time, the digital transition and the recent trend to use AI for all possible tasks triggers resource and greenhouse-gas-intensive consumption patterns, linked to increased use of energy. Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation thus challenges net positive ambitions of both businesses and consumers unless deployed within the context of sustainability.

The debate explored the “in-between world” of the green transition and acknowledged that smart technologies, big data and artificial intelligence offer approaches to sustainable ways of living and doing business but often they merely a “green façade” masking increased resource consumption. The speakers highlighted the Jevons Paradox which summarises that improvements in the efficiency with which a resource is used tend to increase, rather than decrease, the total consumption of that resource at the societal level.

Efficiency gains in computing and AI (e.g., more operations per watt) can drive expanded applications and total energy demand in data centres and AI. Efficiency is essential but not sufficient on its own to guarantee lower total consumption to mitigate climate change.