Digitalisation consultancy industry

Work by the digitalisation consultancy industry on the roadmap mainly focuses on how digitalisation can enable major cuts in emissions in all sectors of society.

Targets in roadmap

2030*: Halve the industry’s own greenhouse gas emissions and those of the value chain.
2045: Achieve zero emissions.

* The previous target of halving energy consumption by 2030 was updated in 2021 to be compatible with the Exponential Roadmap 1.5C Business Playbook and the UN’s  Race to Zero initiative.

To implement the roadmap, the industry is working on:

• optimising existing systems, e.g. transport route optimisation using AI.
• accelerated uptake of smart solutions, e.g. greater use of digital meeting solutions.
• transformative changes with new system solutions, e.g. by implementing digital tools that enable new resource-efficient business models and circular solutions, such as mobility as a service.

The process for implementing the roadmap is run by the organisation Digitaliseringskonsulterna.

Progress since the roadmap was launched

Climate potential of digitalisation highlighted by the pandemic

When opportunities to travel and meet face to face were restricted during the pandemic, it became clear how digital technology could facilitate far-reaching behavioural changes and thus new business models. The results showed that the way people move, live, eat and work can be changed and that many activities can be moved online, with the consequences often being a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Figures from companies in the industry show, for example, that their own emissions fell by more than 70 percent in 2018–2020 due to remote working.

A promise to increase use of green digital technology

With 26 other European countries, Sweden has promised to implement and invest in more green digital technology to achieve climate neutrality and speed up the green and digital transformation in the Declaration on A Green and Digital Transformation of the EU. This includes supporting the deployment of green digital solutions that accelerate the decarbonisation of energy networks, enable precision farming, decrease pollution, combat the loss of biodiversity and optimise resource efficiency. Under the Declaration, the Government is to regularly evaluate progress and report back to the Commission.

Practical application of methodology to highlight the positive climate impact of innovation

In 2021, the deep-tech incubator LEAD in partnership with Knowit has applied a method to increase the visibility of, quantify and accelerate the positive impact of newly started companies by avoided emissions. The project showed that four new companies together have potential to cut global emissions by 14 million tonnes a year after 2030, equivalent to 25 percent of Sweden’s annual emissions.