The concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has gained significant attention since the G20 India Presidency, with subsequent presidencies Brazil and South Africa advocating global frameworks to govern the use of digital technologies that support public infrastructures, open-source software, and private data flows. However, many of these initiatives disregard the implications of digitalisation for sustainability. In light of the multiple challenges faced by the world, including climate change, decarbonisation, and dematerialisation, numerous global environmental agreements have been established. Regrettably, these two realms of policymaking are often disconnected, failing to systematically address how digital transformation can contribute to sustainable economic growth. Recently United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) high impact Initiative on DPI outlined key action areas that unify global initiatives towards some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This policy brief aims to address this gap by outlining key pathways that can guide G20 policymakers in utilising digital public infrastructure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a systemic perspective on greening the procurement and supply chains, enhancing smart city applications, scaling up corporate environmental practices within big tech companies, and establishing a global governance architecture for DPI. By fostering these pathways, policymakers can advance a more interconnected north-south cooperative approach to sustainable digital transformation.