TO BE PUBLISHED July 2025
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This conference will assess priorities for decarbonisation of the UK’s technology sector, with a focus on the energy demands of AI, strategies for making data centres more efficient, and the role of emerging technologies in supporting the UK’s net zero targets.
It is bringing stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the way forward in aligning digital expansion with sustainability goals, in the context of government initiatives such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the establishment of the AI Energy Council. Delegates will assess implications of pressures on energy consumption from AI and consider priorities for channelling investment and targeting innovation - including into Small Modular Reactors and renewable energy solutions - to effectively contribute to national decarbonisation aims.
Sessions will also assess regulatory and legal frameworks needed to support the sector’s sustainability ambitions, including options for emissions reporting, changes to planning policy and regulation, and coordination with evolving international standards.
Industry-led initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of data centres will be examined, alongside broader considerations of how digital infrastructure can support the UK’s energy system and wider net zero commitments. Delegates will also consider the role of COP29’s Declaration on Green Digital Action, assessing its implications for UK policy and how international commitments can be integrated into domestic regulatory and investment strategies.
Discussion will also explore the role of AI and digital technologies in enabling decarbonisation across other industries, including energy management, cloud efficiency, and 5G-enabled sustainability solutions.
Further sessions will focus on next steps for policy and industry action in supporting the decarbonisation of the tech sector itself, while also harnessing technology to contribute to the UK’s broader climate objectives.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- AI Energy Council and regulatory direction:
- the role of the newly announced Council - priorities for aligning AI growth with net zero targets
- balancing innovation and sustainability in regulatory decision-making
- energy demands of AI and sustainability strategies:
- policy considerations for addressing tensions between sustainability goals and supporting the AI sector - the role of SMRs as a solution for decarbonisation
- alternative energy sources to support AI technologies - opportunities for accelerating investment in renewable energy solutions - support for competition and start-ups
- decarbonising data centres:
- regulatory options and latest thinking on technical approaches for improving energy efficiency - assessing industry initiatives such as the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact
- the future for reporting obligations on energy usage and emissions
- ICT role in wider decarbonisation:
- potential avenues for cloud computing, 5G, and AI to accelerate the decarbonisation of other industries - leveraging digital tools for climate action
- corporate responsibility and tech-led sustainability initiatives
- Scope 3 emissions and supply chain accountability:
- promoting digital literacy and raising awareness of root causes of emissions - facilitating the sharing of best practice
- sustainable infrastructure development and the impact of planning policy changes - assessing the future for reporting and transparency measures
- impact of international frameworks:
- potential impact of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive for UK-based data centres - potential updates to UK regulations in light of global sustainability commitments
- outcomes from the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action and implications for the UK
