Digitalisation and environmental sustainability are widely discussed topics. However, their nexus remains underexplored and can pose significant challenges for governments and industries alike. The environmental implications of digitalisation are becoming increasingly pertinent with the advent of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and artificial intelligence (AI) and their inherent energy consumption and production of e-waste. On the other hand, digitalisation could potentially support sustainability efforts. This begs the question of how systems of governance, such as regulatory frameworks and internal organisational governance, should harmonise digitalisation and sustainability goals. Such harmonisation entails ensuring that digitalisation processes are environmentally responsible while exploring how the application and features of digitalisation can help achieve environmental goals. By drawing insights from the case study of CBDCs and AI, this talk will seek potential solutions to the environmental implications of digitalisation.

Event hosts:

· Professor Özlem Gürses, Professor of Commercial Law, The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London

· Dr Lerong Lu, Reader in Law, The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London

Speaker:

Professor Heng Wang, Professor of Law and Associate Dean (Faculty Matters & Research), Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University

Speaker bio: Heng Wang is a Professor and at Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University. Previously, he was a professor at UNSW Sydney. Heng is a recipient of major grants and awards, including being named Australia’s research field leader in international law by The Australian newspaper. His work has often been cited in intergovernmental organisation documents. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance, Future of Blockchain and Digital Assets Initiative, and Technology, Innovation and Systemic Risk Initiative. He has advised or been a (keynote) speaker at events organised by esteemed institutions, including Asian Development Bank, APEC, Bundesbank, CPMI/BIS, ESCAP, HCCH, ICC, ICSID, IMF, INTERPOL, MAS, UNDP, UNCITRAL, World Bank, WTO, and the private sector. His research evolves to explore the future of international economic governance, including that of the international financial system, and solutions to risks.