Digital technology is playing an increasingly key role in Europe's strategy towards achieving sustainable development goals. The Next Generation EU package, apart from its role to support Member States in recovering from the consequences of COVID-19, was also designed to make them greener and more digital. To be eligible for funding, Member States must define specific climate and digital objectives in their National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs). In this article we describe how digitalization can help European countries become more sustainable. For example, how the exploitation of digital technologies can lead to increased efficiency in terms of use of resources and energy consumption, more efficient and sustainable energy systems, broader access to clean water and sanitation, etc., and how digital tools facilitate the interaction and collaboration between policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens, and how they allow real-time monitoring and predictive analytics. Overall, digitalization can play a crucial role in sustainable development in Europe, at both national and regional level. Nevertheless, policymakers and stakeholders should take the potential challenges and risks posed by digital technologies, such as data privacy, digital disruptions, and technology dependence, into account. Future research can focus on the exploration of the potential of digitalization to develop innovative solutions and tackle the challenges of sustainable development in Europe.
KOUNDOURI Phoebe;
LANDIS Conrad;
PLATANIOTIS Angelos;
2025-06-03
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC134441
978-92-68-21324-7 (online),
OP KJ-01-24-094-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC134441,
10.2760/7798418 (online),
