Apéro Digital: Friends or Foes? Digitalization & Sustainability towards COP30

What are the carbon footprints of digital technologies such as AI and data-driven services? How can AI systems be effectively used to monitor deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and responsible use of resources? Will IoT sensors and open environmental data platforms enable participative climate action and ecosystem protection? And how can digital technologies help accelerate climate action and environmental protection, while enabling environmental stewardship?

Apéro Digital is launching its 5th event, in collaboration with the Zurich Knowledge Center for Sustainable Development(ZKSD), on the topic Aligning Digitalization with Sustainability for COP30. In this event, stakeholders interested in sustainability, climate action, environment policy, bioeconomy, Big Tech, AI, social innovation, or are currently involved in related activities, will gather to explore the opportunities and challenges for setting and navigating the COP30 agenda forward. The event will conclude with an exquisite Apéro Riche for networking. Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr. Christian Schaffner, Executive Director, Energy Science Center (ESC), ETH
• Samira Keller, Scientific Officer, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
• Marius Semm & Jakob Tresch, CEO & CTO, Niatsu

Registration: link

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About Apéro Digital 

Apéro Digital is an event series funded by the DIZH Innovation Program with a focus on outreach. With the vision of fostering collaboration around digitalization and innovation around the Greater Zurich Area, events are organized in engaging formats including public talks, round tables, expert or citizen panels, peer exchanges, fireside chats, and networking opportunities – all with a participatory and co-creative approach. By combining technology foresight, storytelling, and shared experiences, we aim to deepen collective understandings about societal transformations driven by digitalization. The project is supported by the Canton of Zurich and managed by The BRIDGE Lab at the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Responsible AI Innovation Group at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). For further information, please visit the project website and the LinkedIn page.

About the ZKSD

With the ZKSD, the four sponsoring universities – University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH), and Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) – have created a hub for sustainability projects together with the Hamasil Foundation, which helps to bridge the gap between knowledge and committed action. The ZKSD promotes the exchange of ideas among researchers, lecturers, and students from the four universities, as well as the general public, in the field of sustainable development. With the goal of driving forward the Agenda 2030 and the 17 SDGs, the ZKSD envisions itself to act as physical and virtual meeting place, promoting informal communication between its members, as well as dialogue with the public, across disciplinary and institutional boundaries. Under the umbrella of the ZKSD, the four universities will explore and develop solution-oriented strategies for the challenges of sustainability, together with actors from science, education, civil society, business, politics, and the arts.