Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Royal Society's report entitled, Digital Technology and the Planet, published on 3 December 2020, what plans he has to establish (a) frameworks for collecting, sharing and using data for net zero applications and (b) a taskforce for digitalisation of the net zero transition.

As set out in the Prime Minister’s recent Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, now is the time to take bold steps to tackle climate change, and officials are working across Government to ensure we are delivering on this in a coordinated fashion. We welcome the Royal Society’s contribution and are currently considering the recommendations in their report.

The National Data Strategy, published this September, recognises the potential for better data use to contribute towards finding solutions to the climate crisis, including by supporting the UK’s net zero target for 2050. The consultation on the strategy included a question on Government's role in ensuring data does not negatively contribute to carbon usage.

We are currently in the process of analysing consultation responses and will update on next steps in due course.