CODES Update November 2021

Digital4Climate learning programme launch at COP26

What is the transformational role digital solutions and innovations can play in supporting, speeding and scaling climate action? The Digital4Climate Interactive Learning Programme offers unique insights of the topic and just launched during COP26 by UNEP, UNFCCC, GIZ and the EU.  Watch the video and pre-register.  

Digital discovery session: global surface water explorer platform on 25 November from 2 to 4 p.m. CEST

How can digital technologies revolutionize the monitoring of global surface water and SDG 6.6.1? Learn how the Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer – a digital transformation partnership by UNEP, Google Earth Engine and the EU JRC uses earth observation data, cloud computing and machine learning helps to monitor freshwater ecosystems and how it is being used “in the wild” by stakeholders. Add event to the calendar and join here.

Watch the recording of October Digital Discovery session on IQ Air platform and use cases in Kenya.

Facebooks bans Amazon land listings on marketplace

Facebook updated their commerce policies to prohibit using Marketplace to buy land in ecological conservation areas. Read how Facebook operationalised postings review on Marketplace based on data from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). 

Giving consumers more sustainable choices with Google

Google announced a series of measures to embed sustainability goals into various Google products and services, including search, maps, travel, and home. Google also teamed up with UN for verified climate information and will also surface short and easy-to-understand text blurbs and visuals on the causes and effects of climate change as well as individual actions that people can take to help tackle the climate crisis. 

GHG Monitoring from space: a mapping of capabilities across satellite missions

This joint report published by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) provides a map the current and upcoming satellite missions that monitor greenhouse gases (GHGs) and identifies seven policy-relevant key messages. 

Three pathways UNDP is leveraging digital technology to achieve climate goals

Learn how UNDP will leverage new and emerging digital technologies across three priority areas – data, innovation and safeguards, to catalyze even greater impact going forward.

COP 26: Creation of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNDP and UNEP announced at COP26 a new Systematic Observations Finance Facility (SOFF). Learn how it will significantly improve the collection of essential weather and climate to foster resilient development across the globe. 

Transforming food systems with AI: TEEBAgriFood

How can governments transform food systems faster, better, and on a larger scale than before? TEEBAgriFood, an initiative hosted by UNEP, supports this transformation by catalyzing the use of predictive analytical tools. Learn how this AI-impowered platform enables anticipatory decision-making to transform food systems.

Call for Data and professionals: digitalisation in industry and environmental sustainability

The research group on “Digitalization and Sustainability Transformations“ from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. (IASS) Potsdam studies the impacts of digitalisation in industry on people and planet. The goal of the current research project is to investigate the impact of advanced digital technologies, e.g., use of machine-to-machine communication and AI on industry sectors’ energy/carbon efficiency over time, comparing different countries around the globe, and feed this knowledge into policy design. 

Therefore, the IASS researchers are looking for: Data on digitalisation in industry sectors over time for low- and middle-income countries; Data on carbon/energy intensity of industry sectors over time for low- and middle-income countries; People with links to digitalisation in industry and interest in discussing common research interests; Special interest in data and expertise on/from China.

Please contact Stefanie Kunkel ([email protected]) for any further details.

Magda Biesiada, Head of World Environment Situation Room Unit, United Nations Environment Programme

“Digital transformation gives us a unique opportunity to collaborate globally at an unprecedented level and create disruptions in society, industry, and organizations. Collective action will be stimulated by advances in environmental data and digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The time is now to break out of our comfort zone and embrace this unique opportunity to generate global environmental intelligence, change economic incentives, influence consumer behaviors and empower individual agency to contribute to sustainability.”

Engage with CODES

The Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES) is a global platform that advances action by governments, companies, and civil society as part of the implementation process for the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. It brings together a multi-stakeholder community to co-design and deliver collaborative action towards achieving a digital planet for global sustainability. Join here .

CODES is co-championed by the German Environment Agency, the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the International Science Council, Future Earth, UNEP and UNDP. 

This update was sent on behalf of the CODES co-champions by [email protected].

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