BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 8. Digital document
exchange between state institutions in Azerbaijan saves 4.8 million
pages every month, which allows saving more than 6,000 trees per
year, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad
Hasanov said at the session "From COP29 to Climate Week: Digital
Action Path for a Green World" held within the framework of the
Baku Climate Action Week, Trend's correspondent reports.
Hasanov noted that digital technologies are one of the most
powerful tools in the fight against climate change and have the
potential to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in
various sectors of the economy and strengthening adaptation to
climate impacts.
He pointed out that the Declaration on Green Digital Action,
adopted within the framework of COP29, was supported by 75
countries and more than 1,000 organizations.
"Now our task is to implement this commitment," the deputy
minister emphasized.
According to him, digitalization itself has a certain impact on
the environment.
"According to the International Telecommunication Union, the ICT
sector accounts for 1.5-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the International Energy Agency, data center
electricity demand increased by 17% in 2025. This is about six
times the growth rate of global electricity demand," he said.
Hasanov added that data center electricity demand is expected to
double again by 2030, reaching about 3% of global electricity
consumption.
"These figures clearly demonstrate one point: digital
transformation must be built on the principle of sustainability. We
must consider not only how technology can serve climate action, but
also how the technology sector itself can reduce its environmental
impact throughout its entire life cycle, from energy and water use
to supply chains and e-waste," the deputy minister noted.
He said that the implementation of advanced cooling and energy
management systems can reduce energy consumption for cooling in
data centers by up to 40%.
Green digital transformation in Azerbaijan
Hasanov noted that digital transformation in Azerbaijan is
linked to green development goals.
According to him, through the myGov platform, birth and marriage
registration, identity verification services, and other important
services are provided in digital form. This reduces the use of
paper documents and repeated applications of citizens to state
institutions.
"Digital document exchange between state institutions saves
about 4.8 million pages every month and allows for the protection
of more than 6,000 trees per year. Digital government isn't only
about speed and convenience. It also means using technology to
protect resources," the deputy minister explained.
He noted that the consolidation of state information systems in
the "Government Cloud" is also an important step in this
direction.
"According to the Action Plan for Accelerating Digital
Development for 2026-2028, this migration is planned to be
completed by December 2027. This will allow reducing operational
costs, strengthening cyber defense resilience, and creating a
secure and energy-efficient base for artificial intelligence
capabilities being formed in public administration, including
government," Hasanov emphasized.
Azersky in climate and environmental
monitoring
The deputy minister said that technologies also allow for better
study of changes in the environment and prompt response to
them.
He noted that drought, desertification, water resources, the
water level of the Caspian Sea, and the water quality of rivers are
monitored through Azerbaijan's Azersky satellite, remote sensing,
and geographic information systems.
"These capabilities create conditions for timely and
scientifically based decisions on environmental protection,"
Hasanov said.
35 solar-powered base stations operate in Karabakh
Hasanov noted that telecommunications infrastructure also has an
impact on the environment.
"Therefore, Azerbaijan is expanding the use of renewable energy
for telecommunications infrastructure, especially in remote areas.
We have begun installing solar-powered base stations that operate
on renewable energy for more than 60% of their active period. There
are 35 such stations in Karabakh alone," the deputy minister
noted.
According to him, the initiatives implemented by Azerbaijan are
in line with the goals of the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital
Action - creating sustainable digital infrastructure, reducing the
climate impact of digitalization, digital inclusion, data-based
decision-making, sustainable innovation, and sharing best
practices.
"Azerbaijan's experience shows that green digital activity is
not an abstract concept. It translates into measurable results such
as less paper documents, lower energy consumption, forest
protection, better environmental monitoring, and more sustainable
digital infrastructure," said Hasanov.
He stressed that no country can overcome these challenges
alone.
"States, international organizations, the private sector, and
academia must share knowledge, mobilize funding, and ensure the
large-scale implementation of successful solutions," the deputy
minister added.
