In February, the All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group is launching a new research report entitled Is staying online costing the Earth? The report looks at the carbon footprint and energy consumption of different parts of the internet, as well as the potential for ICT to enable further reductions in carbon emissions in other sectors in the UK.

Under the Climate Change Act, the UK must cut emissions by at least 80% relative to 1990. As our appetite for data continues to grow, it is important that policy makers recognise that there is potential both for the internet to be a huge carbon emitter and to faciliate huge carbon savings.

This event will officially launch the report and start a conversation in Parliament about how policy makers can both ensure that the carbon emissions of the internet are kept in check and that the UK makes the most of available digital solutions to cut carbon emissions in other sectors.

Chair:

Jonathan Shaw, Chief Executive, Policy Connect & Former Environment Minister

Speakers:

Daniel Zeichner MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Cambridge

Antoinette Sandbach MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Eddisbury and member of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

More speakers to be confirmed.

Tea and coffee will be served on arrival. 

The report has brought together independent and industry experts with parliamentarians and other policymakers to consider the issues in this area in depth and make recommendations on useful next steps.