True or false?

Our lives are becoming increasingly digital. Artificial intelligence has long since evolved from the stuff of science fiction into reality. Put your knowledge about our everyday digital world to the test.

Question 1 out of 5

Computers are capable of creating works of art

True

380,500 euros – that’s how much someone was willing to pay for a painting by a computer in 2018. The artwork created by an artificial intelligence (AI) went under the hammer at auction house Christie’s. But that’s not all. AI also writes music that even experts can’t tell apart from works by human composers. What’s more, artificial intelligence trained in human poetry can create poems in the style of renowned figures such as Goethe and Schiller. Be it paintings, compositions, or poetry – experts are in disagreement as to whether such works are genuine art or just imitations. Either way, humans are unable to tell the difference.

Question 2 out of 5

Artificial intelligence can recognize the spread of infectious diseases such as coronavirus faster than the World Health Organization (WHO).

True

Artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of reliably predicting the spread of infectious diseases. A computer program developed by the Canadian company BlueDot issued a warning about the outbreak of coronavirus in the Chinese city of Wuhan and the consequential spreading nine days before the WHO. For its prognosis, the software sourced data from flight databases, official health warnings, regional news, blogs, and forum posts, among other things. The calculations were then assessed by epidemiologists.

Question 3 out of 5

Computers can figure out what we are like as a person based on a few likes on social networks.

True

Sharing information on social networks about what you like reveals a lot about you as a person. In a study, researchers from Stanford University and the University of Cambridge concluded that, based on Facebook likes, computers can assess an individual’s personality traits just as accurately as close friends and family can. The more likes that were evaluated, the better the computer’s assessment was. Those who wish to protect their data from misuse should therefore disclose as little information about themselves as possible. This includes making likes in social networks private – with a simple click of the privacy button.

Question 4 out of 5

Computers are being deployed as court judges.

False

To date, computers have not replaced court judges. But even the justice system cannot escape digitalization. In the United States, software programs are used to help judges make decisions. If the software predicts a high chance of reoffending, this will be factored into the sentencing process. Besides this adjudication, AI also plays a role in the wider justice system, including in Germany. Lawyers use software to see how likely an appeal against penalty fines for traffic offenses is to succeed, which allows them to get through ten times more cases. The use of artificial intelligence in the legal system ought to serve the public. That’s why, in 2018, the Council of Europe published fundamental ethical principles for deploying AI in this context. Among other things, it is now necessary to be able to check how artificial intelligence reaches its conclusions.

Question 5 out of 5

Ultimately, humans are also just algorithms.

Uncertain.

In fact, there are scientific theories that suggest all organisms are made up of algorithms – humans included.

Algo-what?

What even is an algorithm? An algorithm is basically a defined formula that leads to a result. This doesn’t have to be a mathematical formula. It could even be a recipe for baking. Step 1: Weigh out the ingredients. Step 2: Prepare the dough. Step 3: Pre-heat the oven… The result of this algorithm is a delicious cake.

All computers use algorithms. In contrast to humans, they can go through them much faster and therefore process a much larger amount of data. In this way, they generate results that humans would never be able to figure out. Some researchers suggest that living organisms also function with help from algorithms that have successfully asserted themselves over the course of evolution. Indeed, 99 percent of all bodily functions are performed unconsciously.

DATA SHARING IS CARING

The future belongs to data. But who owns the data? What makes our data so valuable and what would be if everyone could benefit from it? We address these and other questions in our We Care-magazine.

Humans vs. machines

But what will happen if technical algorithms become increasingly faster, better, and more intelligent? Will the data that we voluntarily share not only be used for advertising purposes, but also to manipulate us? If artificial intelligence perhaps knows us better than we do, should we let it make our decisions for us? Will our lives become easier if robots and other machines take over more and more tasks from us? And what will we do then? Will we perhaps become one with machines? Or is the history of humanity coming to an end?

All just a product of our imagination?

Science fiction authors and movie directors have always depicted what our future could look like, bringing various scenarios to life on paper and our screens:

Privacy was nothing more than a phase that is now over.
(Mae Holland)

The sci-fi movie “The Circle” is based on the popular novel by Dave Eggers, which tells the tale of the young and ambitious Mae Holland as she lands a job at The Circle, the world’s most influential IT company. The Circle advocates for complete transparency from everyone. The right to anonymity is abolished, eliminating any difference between what is private and what is public. People wear mini cameras that constantly stream recordings to the web. As far as the company is concerned, if you don’t have anything to hide, you’ve got no reason to refuse such transparency. The more people who subscribe to this logic, the more powerful The Circle becomes.

The movie "Matrix" is set in the 21st century and humanity has developed increasingly intelligent machines. Artificial intelligence is demanding equality. Yet humans refuse. The machine revolution becomes an inevitability. In an attempt to turn off the machines, humans darken the skies to block their access to energy. But the machines are more powerful and win the war. To ensure they have enough energy, they raise humans in intensive farms. Nutrition tanks provide the humans with everything they need to survive. A virtual illusion – the matrix – lets them believe they are living in a real world. Very few are able to see through this illusion and break free. Agent Smith pursues those who rebel.

Look out that window. You had your time. The future is our time.
(Agent Smith)

I would rather die a man, than live for all eternity a machine. (Andrew)

The movie “Bicentennial Man” is based on a book by Isaac Asimov, one of the best-known science fiction writers of the 20th century. The story is set in 2005. Machines are servants for humans. Household robot Andrew is unique in that he develops feelings and self-awareness. As the years go on, he increasingly develops human traits. He asks his owners for freedom so he can achieve his dream – to be accepted as a human. The world parliament, however, refuses to give him human status because he is immortal. In response, Andrew changes his body to initiate a natural aging process. Shortly before his death, he is officially recognized as the oldest human by the world parliament.

The potential for a better world

Science fiction movies show us how some people imagine the future – but no one can predict what it will look like in reality. Day in, day out, we all experience that our world is changing at an ever-greater speed. Computers and artificial intelligence have long since become indispensable in our day-to-day lives. Most of the time, they help us without us even noticing. This is the start of a development that can no longer be stopped – and we wouldn’t want to stop it, either. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would, seeing as artificial intelligence can help us detect illnesses and develop new methods of treatment. If we find technical solutions to slow down climate change, who would be against using them? And who would want to wave goodbye to the ability to always keep in touch no matter how far apart we are? Yet it’s naturally important that we don’t let all our enthusiasm cloud our judgment as we head into the digital future, but rather define a clear direction and a binding framework. At the end of the day, artificial intelligence is just a neutral tool. We, the humans, are the ones who decide whether it works to our advantage or not.

GET INVOLVED
The Internet not only changes how we engage politically and allows us to participate in shaping the future, it has also changed politics itself. More in the We Care issue focusing on
digital democracy

Power through the network

When it comes to shaping our digital future, we all have our part to play – not just politicians and companies. Every single one of us can make a contribution and take part in decision-making processes. Here, too, digitalization offers valuable assistance. Never before have we had unrestricted access to information. Never before have we been able to communicate and organize ourselves so easily across borders. We can make ourselves heard and influence social debates, for example with online petitions. We are able to condemn injustices and call out those responsible directly online. Last but not least, we can come together as a global community and fight for a common objective. The recent Fridays for Future movement and the #MeToo debate are just some examples of what can be achieved.

#TAKEPART – our top priority

Deutsche Telekom is eager to ensure everyone can #TAKEPART and benefit from the opportunities offered by the web. And the basis for that is fast and high-performance internet access. That’s why we invest billions each year in network expansion – in 2019, the figure was some EUR 13 billion across the Group. In Germany, we have been the largest investor in this area for years. As a company that both drives and shapes digitalization, we believe our responsibility extends beyond merely providing access to technology. We also want to help people surf the web with confidence and skill. “We won’t be satisfied until everyone can #TAKEPART” is the key message of our #TAKEPART brand campaign.

Skills needed

After all, new opportunities also give rise to new challenges. How can I track down the relevant facts in an abundance of information and how can I find the right allies for my cause? How do I spot fake news and break free from filter bubbles? How can I stop my data from being misused – and to what extent can I relinquish my privacy without it causing me harm? Answering these questions calls for media literacy – the key skill on our path toward the digital future.

That’s why we as Telekom dedicate great effort to empowering people to use digital media with confidence and skill and to promoting coexistence on the web in accordance with democratic principles. In 2019, we reached 12.8 million people with our wide range of media literacy offerings.

What we do

We present all of our initiatives for greater media literacy on the “Media, sure! But secure.” website. Focusing on the latest topics, from digital democracy and online friendships right through to data privacy and security, our #TAKEPART stories are easy to understand, innovative, and full of good advice. In our endeavor to ensure no one is left behind in the digital future, we also offer this information in simplified language. Our „Teachtoday“ initiative supports children, young people, parents, grandparents, and teachers by offering hands-on tips and materials.

Data privacy and security are high up on our agenda when it comes to helping shape our digital future. We take part in political discourse, collaborate with partners from the spheres of politics, business, and science, and pave the way for progress – for example with our guidelines for artificial intelligence.

Our guidelines for artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also featured in an ever-growing number of ICT products and services from Deutsche Telekom. Eager to pursue a responsible and ethical approach to AI, in 2018 we devised guidelines for this very purpose. Since then, we have carried out training sessions and workshops on implementing these guidelines in our company, organized a conference on digital ethics, integrated the AI guidelines into contractually relevant provisions for our suppliers, and developed an internal test seal for ethical AI products and applications that meet our high expectations.

Leading by example

The internet is full of dedicated people, inspiring ideas, and countless opportunities to help shape the future. Here, we would like to present some of the initiatives that unite people from across the globe and advocate for a fair society.

1
Center for Humane Technology
Since it was founded in 2018, the Center for Humane Technology has been on a mission to ensure that the advances and opportunities of modern-day technology serve society, strengthen democracy, enhance prosperity, and help solve global challenges. Some years ago, Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google and a co-founder of this NGO, noticed the negative impact of business models geared toward ensuring people spend as much time online as possible. Today, Harris and his team therefore advocate for products and services founded on the principles of humane technology.
2
AlgorithmWatch
The nonprofit organization AlgorithmWatch is committed to evaluating and shedding light on algorithmic decision-making processes that have a social relevance, meaning they are used either to predict or prescribe human action or to make decisions automatically.
3
Unfuck the world
The “Unfuck the world” initiative inspires people across the globe to make the world a better place – online and offline. Large festivals are also organized on a regular basis. One example is the democracy festival due to take place on June 12, 2020 in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. This particular event aims to offer a platform for presenting solutions to the most pressing problems of today and endorsing them there and then, e.g. by way of petitions.
4
Chaos Computer
Club e.V.
In the Chaos Computer Club e.V. (CCC), hackers from across Europe have come together to provide information about technical and social issues (e.g. privacy, data protection, and the provision of information). For 30 years, the CCC has met these targets by means of various events and campaigns, lobbying activities, publications, and services.
5
OpenAI
OpenAI focuses on researching artificial intelligence. The organization’s main donors are investor and entrepreneur Elon Musk and the Microsoft corporation. The aim of OpenAI is to develop and commercialize open-source artificial intelligence so that it benefits society and doesn’t harm it.
6
Frag den Staat ("Ask the State")
This not-for-profit platform enables citizens to ask German authorities for information and documents. This is based on the conviction, which is anchored in statute, that every person has a right to information.
7
Global Digital Women
Global Digital Women (GDW), an international company of movers and shakers in the digital sector, centers around digitalization and diversity. The aim is to network today’s inspiring digital thinkers, give them a voice, and provide them with support. GDW offers women in businesses, politics, associations, and organizations a platform and space to discuss ideas and make their career path visible.
8
Initiatives against hate on social media
There are various movements on social media that are committed to creating a better society in accordance with democratic principles and in which everyone can take part. One example is the #ichbinhier (#iamhere) Facebook group, which strives to tackle hate comments and bullying online. Following riots in the German city of Chemnitz in 2018, #wirsindmehr (#wearemore) was created to challenge right-wing extremism. The platform “hassmelden.de” offers the opportunity to report hate comments, racist abuse, insults, or threats. Reports of content that could be of interest to law enforcement agencies is forwarded directly to the central agency for fighting internet criminality (ZIT) run by the chief public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt am Main.
9
Reporterfabrik - CORRECTIV
CORRECTIV is a nonprofit research hub dedicated to promoting democracy and combating extremist views. Its team of reporters defend against fake news and send a clear signal against extremism.
10
Crowdfunding
Got a good idea but in need of some seed money? With crowdfunding, you can present your projects on special online platforms and ask your community for financial support. Those who manage to convince enough investors can put their ideas into action, as with the crowdfunding concept, you build up your seed money through lots of small amounts.

Shaping the future together

Data is the commodity of the 21st century – and all of us are data suppliers. It is our shared responsibility to ensure data is used to our advantage and not to our detriment. Let’s tap into the opportunities digitalization offers us to shape our future together.

A better digital society is possible.

Is the web driving our society further apart – or bringing us closer together? And does digitalization represent an opportunity or a risk in the context of social participation? We put these questions to Clemens Brandstetter, founder of the managerfragen.org platform, which aims to get managers and members of the public talking.

The interview

Formerly himself a manager at Deutsche Telekom, Brandstetter is now Executive Director of consulting firm macc and also writes books. He focuses on issues involving the (digital) transformation of business/companies and society, innovation, new ways of working, and (public) leadership.
1. Mr. Brandstetter, is our society being steamrollered by the sheer speed of digitalization?

I’m a positive person and firmly believe we can cope. Mankind has always been highly adaptable and quick to learn, but we’re currently facing a period of historic upheaval – and the speed at which things are changing can sometimes prove too much for us. Each of us is aware of this in our everyday lives, but it’s also apparent when looking at traditional institutions. Legislation is failing to keep pace and school curricula are also lagging behind. We’re at a crossroads, so it’s now a case of setting the correct course for digitalization. I’m convinced that a better society will then be possible – “Democracy 2.0” as it were – with opportunities for more dialog, involvement, and social participation.
2. And if we don’t succeed?

Obviously, there are also risks. We all leave millions of data traces online, for example, and this data can be misused. Everyone has experienced that uneasy feeling when related product advertising suddenly appears following a web search. We’re currently seeing in China where this can lead in extreme cases. A system is to be introduced there that awards people points and classifies them as “good” or “bad” citizens based on things such as their online search and purchase behavior. We must be very careful to ensure the technological possibilities don’t erode our democracy, because whoever controls the technology can also influence opinions and even win elections. That’s the negative vision – a data dictatorship.
3. What do we need to do to enhance the positive effects and lessen the negative ones?

“Democracy 2.0” also requires “Enlightenment 2.0” – we need to look at the underlying technology and mechanisms, asking how a search engine works and why we get different results to our neighbors. How can we form an opinion and check facts, and how can we decide what happens to our data? We must learn to retain control and not allow ourselves to be manipulated.
4. Who is responsible for this?

The aim must be to reach as many people as possible and equip them with digital skills that help them with specific everyday tasks. Given the rapid pace of digitalization, we above all require flexible projects, initiatives, networks, communities, etc. Such organizational entities can adapt faster to changes than traditional institutions and curricula. Companies also have a role to play in this regard – especially technology companies, because they have the necessary know-how and can use this to support existing initiatives or start their own media literacy projects.
5. Should companies also be actively involved in social debates and take a stance?

That’s a controversial issue. In my opinion, companies should and must take a stance. They’re part of society and can’t shy away from important debates. We can’t dream of an open information society while companies shut themselves off. On the contrary, they must open up, stand up for their values, and enter into dialog.
6. On the web in particular, this dialog isn’t always objective. In 2019, your managerfragen.org platform organized a dialog event that required people to identify themselves as either as an “angry citizen” or a “business boss” when registering to take part. Does our society really pit angry members of the public against ignorant managers?

The media’s tendency to aggravate, generalize, and simplify matters existed long before the internet, but this has become worse still on social media. That was one of the main reasons for founding managerfragen.org – we need to start talking more with each other again instead of about each other. The title of the event– asking whether we really are a society of horrible bosses and angry citizens – was deliberately intended to be provocative. We wanted to challenge people’s prejudices. That’s one of the big opportunities offered by the internet – it creates new meeting places to learn from each other and overcome prejudices.
7. One final question – do you think we’re currently heading for more division or more common ground?

In my opinion, despite all the divisional tendencies, we’re also currently seeing exactly the opposite in society – a strong desire to grow closer again and shape the future together. For example, “Fridays for Future” has gained impressive global momentum in just a short space of time. The internet has played its part in this, so I’m optimistic about the future – and motivated to make my own contribution to improving the level of dialog and understanding.

Everyday life goes digital

The digital revolution is fundamentally changing our lives – something we’re all witnessing on a daily basis. We learn and work online, keep in touch with friends and family, read, and watch box sets. Many people would find everyday life without the internet hard to imagine. Digital connectivity can improve many aspects of our world. It can help us lead more sustainable lives by using the internet to share everyday items instead of buying new ones or controlling our homes digitally to save energy, for example.

and join in

The web also makes it easier for us to join in and help shape our society. We have continuous access to information and find allies the world over who share our concerns. We are able to condemn injustices and call out those responsible directly online. We can also make ourselves heard and influence social debates. There’s also a downside, though, because everyone being able to have their say doesn’t automatically make for a better debate. Anyone taking a stance online

must expect opposition and, unfortunately, this is not always constructive. The web is full of hate comments, media frenzies, and fake news. Like virtually every ground-breaking invention in history, the internet brings about both positive and negative developments. Society needs to learn how to harness the opportunities offered by digitalization and reduce its risks. In short, “digital enlightenment” is required – something our company clearly shares responsibility for as a telecommunications provider.

Connected underwear

Seriously?

Our “Love Magenta Connected Underwear” that enables couples to let each other know when they feel the need to spend some quality time together may well be a tongue-in-cheek gimmick, but it does have a serious side, because many of us find it difficult to switch off our beloved smartphones once in a while. In a survey commissioned by Deutsche Telekom, over a third of respondents in Germany aged between 18 and 34 admitted focusing too much on their mobile devices, even when their partner was around. No fewer than 39 percent said the use of mobile devices negatively affects the intimacy of their relationship with their partner. This obsession with mobile devices causes people to miss things in real life that should actually have merited their full attention. In our opinion, if the internet becomes omnipresent in all areas of our lives, we must learn to be more aware of how we use it. “Connected Underwear” may initially appear to be nothing more than a joke, but it does grab our attention, which may just also get us to take a critical look at our smartphone use. The “Connected Underwear” website also contains tips for taking a digital timeout, while a relationship counselor provides recommendations on appropriate smartphone use for couples.

Just switch off for a moment
Be honest: Was your first touch on your smartphone this morning? We hardly notice anymore how much digital content we actually consume. And we give mobile phones etc. a lot of power over us. We Care magazine shows how to simply switch off.
More info here

Stay connected

Being able to switch off is part and parcel of using the web with skill and confidence, but it’s important to make a conscious decision to do so – and not simply be forced into it because technical problems are preventing you from accessing the internet or you feel overwhelmed by the technology or options available. Anyone who is permanently offline in our digital world runs the risk of social exclusion. As a company that is driving and shaping digitalization, we see it as our responsibility not only to provide technical access, but also to help people navigate the web with confidence. “We are only happy when everyone, without exception, can #TAKEPART” is the key message of our #TAKEPART brand campaign.

Barbara Costanzo, Vice President for Group Social Engagement at Deutsche Telekom AG

We help people navigate the web with confidence and follow democratic rules so that everyone can #TAKEPART.

Respect!

#TAKEPART is all about equal participation in social, economic, and cultural life. Everyone should be able to make use of the opportunities the web offers us – bringing us closer to family and friends, making learning more enjoyable, improving health care, and ensuring better mutual understanding as a result of coming across different perspectives every day online.

Our #TAKEPART brand campaign therefore also encourages greater tolerance when we interact with each other digitally. At the end of the day, EVERYONE should be able to participate in the knowledge and information society. As we see it, this also demands that people who have different opinions, sexual preferences, or customs are treated with respect online.

How we are encouraging digital participation

We believe there are three key factors for ensuring everyone can participate in our digital society on equal terms – technical access to fast networks, the affordability of equipment and services, and the ability to use digital media competently. It is important to pay equal attention to all three of these factors if the improvement in digital participation is to be both meaningful and sustainable.

billion euros was invested in expanding our network in 2019.

Spades at the ready!

Superfast, continuous web access is the ultimate goal, so we are working hard to give everyone high-speed internet connections. We are already able to provide 98 percent of the rural and urban population in Germany with fast LTE cellular links, and 30 million households were already benefiting from fast broadband internet at the end of 2019. That’s still not enough for us, though, so we are investing billions in network expansion. Our aim is to eliminate the final dead spots and make real progress with expanding the fiber-optic network.

Internet access is not a luxury

It’s obviously not possible for everyone to have the latest smartphone and the plan with the largest data volume, but a fast internet connection and a modern mobile device that works properly should not be an unaffordable luxury. We therefore offer a whole host of different rate plans for every budget. The “Magenta Mobil Young” (website in German) rate plans for anyone under the age of 28 are just one example. We are also the only supplier in Germany to offer a subsidized rate for eligible customers. Recipients of BAföG student grants or unemployment benefits and those

with severe disabilities, for example, can apply for the subsidized rate for their phone line. We also sell used, refurbished smartphones (website in German) that are in perfect technical condition at significantly reduced prices that make them affordable even to those on a tight budget. In addition to being cheaper, they’re good for the climate, too, because the manufacturing process accounts for around 75 percent of a smartphone’s CO2 emissions. Using smartphones for longer thus reduces emissions of greenhouse gases that harm the environment.

All aboard

We want everyone on board as we head into the digital future. And that means going online should bring positive experiences and do no harm. Data security and data protection are top priorities for us. Navigating the web skillfully is equally important, though, so we promote media literacy among children, young people, and adults of all ages. They should all learn how to use digital media in a targeted, critical, responsible, and creative way.

More than literacy

As we see it, promoting media literacy also means helping to ensure everyone is able to participate confidently and constructively in democratic processes and social debates. The spotlight was on this very issue in 2019 at an unexpected location – IFA in Berlin, the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show – where we risked an experiment. Our booth focused not only on new products and services, but also on digital participation. On each day of the event, exciting workshops on “Digital democracy”, “Banishing trolls”, and “Recognizing fake news” were held. The experiment was a success, with 665 visitors taking part, even though none of them came to the trade show with that in mind.

Our cooperation partners

We are working closely with numerous initiatives, networks, and associations to improve digital participation. Here are a few examples of our cooperations in Germany:

1Juuuport e.V. (since 2017)

This association offers online support to young people experiencing cyber-bullying, WhatsApp stress, and similar problems. In 2019, for example, we held joint cyber-bullying workshops with teachtoday.
2ZDK Gesellschaft Demokratische Kultur / Hass hilft (since 2017)

These internet activists combat online hate comments. We make donations to support the project. In 2019, we were involved in a joint discussion session at IFA.
3Reporterfabrik – CORRECTIV (since 2018)

This team of reporters guards against deliberate fake news and is committed to promoting media literacy. We are supporting the creation of the “Reporterfabrik” web academy and holding joint workshops on various digital topics.
4managerfragen (since 2019)

managerfragen.org is committed to open, fair, and direct dialog between members of the public and managers. Deutsche Telekom and managerfragen.org have developed a series of formats that are used at events to make people aware of web phenomena.
5Gesicht Zeigen! Für ein weltoffenes Deutschland e.V. (since 2009)

Gesicht Zeigen! (show your true colors) encourages people to stand up to xenophobia, racism, antisemitism, and violent far-right extremism. We have been supporting this organization for many years.

#TAKEPART

#TAKEPART is not simply a short-term Deutsche Telekom brand campaign. It’s our long-term commitment to the equal participation of all people in our digital society. According to the latest D21-Digital-Index study, some 13 million people in Germany are in digital no man’s land, which shows this commitment is still urgently required. These people feel overwhelmed and even left behind by the pace of digitalization. We will never stop until everyone can take part, because we firmly believe that business mandates and social responsibility are inextricably linked.

Are summers like
the one we’ve
just had normal?

Record heat waves and droughts, heavy rainstorms and flooding – is all that just regular capricious weather or are we looking at climate change as it happens? This is among the questions we asked climate researcher Professor Mojib Latif.

The interview

Professor Latif, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global land-based temperatures have risen to date by 1.53 degrees Celsius and we are now all living the consequences of that rise in the form of heat waves, flooding and ever more violent storms. How can a rise of just one or two degrees make such a big difference?

Even if the average global temperature on earth has only changed a couple of degrees, such a change can have an enormous effect on the climate. One example can make this very clear: if you use global average temperature as your measure, the difference in temperature between the last Ice Age about 20,000 years ago and today was no more than about 5 degrees.
The earth’s climate has always been in flux over the millennia. Is the current change we’re seeing in our climate due to natural causes or are we humans solely responsible for it? Can you say what percentage of climate change we’re responsible for?

The temperature as we have measured it over recent decades is rising much faster than at any other time over the last 2,000 years. Another difference as compared to past warming periods is that right now the whole surface of the earth is getting warmer. If one looks back to the past, the “Medieval Warm Period”, as well as the “Little Ice Age” that followed it, were phenomena that affected only particular regions of the earth. And scientists agree that the main cause of global warming since the middle of the 20th century has been human activity.
Looking at it realistically, do we have any chance of stopping climate change? And if the answer is yes, what do we need to do? What are the most powerful levers we have available to us?

In theory it’s quite within our power to stop climate change. What we need to do is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions very fast. By the middle of this century we have to get ourselves to a “net zero” situation: That means that all greenhouse emissions caused by humans need to be removed from the atmosphere through reduction measures. Achieving that would mean humans becoming climate neutral, and global temperatures would begin to stabilize. One way of removing CO₂ from the air would be through reforestation. We need more of the earth’s surface under forest cover. Another approach would be to begin to regard the CO₂ in the air as a raw material and to find uses for it in industry and in the energy economy.
Do you see any opportunities for climate protection arising out of the digital revolution?

Absolutely! The future belongs to renewable energy. That means no longer getting our energy mainly from large centralized power stations but from lots of smaller, local systems, all the way down to mini-wind turbines and rooftop solar systems. On top of that, we also need to connect the electricity, heating and transport sectors into a single network. To do that we need intelligent digital energy systems to ensure that we achieve the most efficient possible energy supply.
Many people feel completely helpless in the face of the catastrophe facing us and, feeling powerless to change anything, simply close their eyes to it and continue living their lives as before. Would it do any good for us to make radical changes to our lifestyles and to learn to live in a more climate-friendly way? Where do we need to make changes?

Nothing is impossible! A quick look at history will tell us that, after all, nobody had thought that German reunification could have happened as fast as it did. Germany has a responsibility to show that we need to think of climate protection and human welfare as a single goal. Climate protection is a shared general social challenge that every social group needs to face up to. We have to get away from the habit of simply talking about what we have to give up for the sake of climate protection. What we need to do instead is direct our vision to what we can gain from the change: in terms of quality of life, for example. If you leave your car behind and travel around the city by bike instead, then the environment isn’t going to be the only thing that benefits: your health will benefit too. And if you take public transport, that decision will help reduce your stress levels: no traffic gridlock, no long search for a parking space – and most of the time you’ll get to your destination faster.
And if we don’t succeed in halting the rise in temperatures, what does that mean for life on earth and for us humans – how is the earth going to look in 10, 50, 100 years from now?

That's hard to say. We humans are conducting a gigantic experiment on the earth at the moment. What’s quite clear is that it’s going to get warmer: we’re going to experience more frequent and more serious heat waves and rainstorm events. On top of that, the sea level is going to continue to rise, with incalculable consequences for coastal regions. Some regions of the Earth are going to end up uninhabitable. So, all in all, the prospects are not very positive.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been inspiring a lot of young people recently. Could this signal the start of a global change of heart?

I dearly hope that a global change of heart is gaining momentum. Without societal pressure, decision-makers in politics and industry will never be forced to change direction quickly enough. Her activism is certainly a positive contribution. We do know from history what sort of power can be unleashed when really large numbers of people take to the streets for a cause: Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power, for example, would most likely never have happened without the anti-nuclear movement.

Trees for the climate

We have all learned at school that trees breathe in CO₂ and bind it into their cells. They reduce the CO₂ content in the atmosphere and produce more oxygen – allowing us to breathe. But the world’s forests are disappearing. Hugely destructive fires are raging in Alaska, Indonesia, Colombia, Canada, Brazil and many other countries, some caused naturally, others the product of climate change – and many started deliberately. Such fires contribute doubly to climate change: on the one hand, they release CO₂ directly by burning wood and, on the other, they reduce the capacity of our planet’s green lungs through the destruction of large areas of forest. That makes it doubly important that we commit to the survival of our forests.

Can planting new trees help in the effort to combat climate change? In a recent study, Swiss researchers have come to the conclusion that yes, it certainly does help! According to their calculations, if we create new forests on suitable land all over the world, such forests could store 205 billion metric tons of CO₂ – two thirds of all emissions produced by humans – thus putting a correspondingly large brake on global warming. But we have to hurry up about it, because it takes decades for the trees to get big enough to store enough CO₂. But it’s not just forests we can use to protect our climate, other green areas can contribute substantially to the efforts – especially in the city. Because less water evaporates from paved surfaces, making cities warmer. The conclusion we can take from this is that the greener the city can be made, the better it will be for the climate.

Planting trees at click-by-click

Anyone who uses the “Ecosia” online search engine removes one kilogram of CO₂ from the air with every search, since the search machine uses its profits from searches to plant trees where they are most needed. Alexander Ziemer, a dual student doing the practical part of his studies in Business IT at Deutsche Telekom, has pushed for Ecosia to be made the standard search machine for the entire Group. Alexander, by the way, is a “Green Pioneer”: he and others play the role of ambassadors for sustainability at Deutsche Telekom. As of September 2019, around 150 employees are now taking part.

ALEXANDER ZIEMER
„Green alternatives must integrate easily into everyday life, and Ecosia lets me plant trees – without going near a spade.“

Recording from February 2019

We need to act

Global temperatures are rising even faster than we feared. The increase has already reached 1.53 degrees over the earth’s land surface – though luckily for us, the earth’s large ocean surfaces warm up more slowly. For that reason the current global rise in temperature is “only” 0.87 degrees. What this means is that we have not yet reached the point of no return, and can still save our planet from the worst consequences of global warming. But to do that we have to act – and act fast!

The internet – climate ally or climate enemy?

th place in world electricity consumption
According to calculations made by Greenpeace, if the internet were a country, it would be the sixth largest consumer of electricity on earth.

The digital revolution has the potential to become an important tool on our path to a more climate-friendly future. It can help save energy. On a small scale at home, by controlling our heating via an app in our smart home, for example, or on a very large scale, by using digital applications in industry to make manufacturing processes more efficient.

But the internet is also a gigantic consumer of electrical power. According to calculations made by Greenpeace, if the web were a country, it would be the sixth largest consumer of electricity on earth. That is why it is not enough to simply develop digital applications for climate protection – there is also an urgent need to make the network itself more
climate-friendly.

Climate protection is our top priority

Over about the last two decades, climate protection has been steadily increasing in importance at Deutsche Telekom. We adopted our first environmental program in 1995, an initiative that was followed by measures to reduce our energy consumption and improve our carbon footprint. In 2008 we set ourselves a target for CO₂ reduction: we committed to reduce our in-house CO₂ emissions by 20 percent by 2020, using 2008 as our base year. But we are very aware that time is not on our side, and since have set our benchmark a lot higher. At the beginning of 2019, our CEO Tim Höttges set a new ambitious target: we aim to turn the Deutsche Telekom network into a “green network” by 2021 – 100 percent electricity from renewable sources.

Can the internet save the climate?
Read more in the sustainability-magazine “We Care” here.

Our network is becoming green

By 2021, we are set to have fully converted our entire Deutsche Telekom network, across the entire gamut from mobile telecommunications to the high-speed DSL network, to use electricity entirely from renewable sources. By then, browsing on the Deutsche Telekom network will no longer generate any CO₂ emissions from our side of the equation.

100 percent green energy
By 2021 we will have converted our entire network to consume electricity only coming from renewable sources.

We’re making a big commitment

But that is not all we have taken on: by 2021 we intend to cover our entire energy consumption from renewable sources. This commitment applies not just to electricity, but also to such fuels as gas and oil, which we need, for example, to run our buildings and data centers. Our overriding goal is to reduce all of Deutsche Telekom's CO₂ emissions by 90 percent by 2030 as compared to 2017. This also includes emissions produced through the use of gas and oil, for instance.

And that’s not all – in September 2019, we joined an international industry initiative which aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the mobile communications industry to “net zero” by 2050 at the latest. This makes the mobile communications sector one of the first in the world to set itself the goal of having a zero carbon footprint.

A 100 percent green network
– how is that possible?

We intend to operate our entire network using 100 percent green electricity by 2021. That seems all very easy, but it presents serious challenges to a large international corporation like Deutsche Telekom – every country in which we operate provides different legal frameworks and options for purchasing green electricity. In the USA, for example, we have concluded long-term contracts with wind and solar producers. These contracts run over a time period of 12 to 15 years. That gives the power producers security of investment. Because of our contracts two wind farms have been constructed in the US - until 2021 one more wind farm and four solar farms will follow.

That is how we are making a significant contribution to the energy transition. We are also aiming to conclude such long-term electricity purchase agreements in other countries. We are currently drawing up a guide for the entire Deutsche Telekom Group, the basic purpose of which is to support our various national companies in choosing the ideal solution for their individual needs by providing information on the various options they have available for the purchase of green electricity.

80 percent of our CO₂ emissions are not created directly by ourselves, but through the manufacture and usage of our products.

THE SUPPLIER WHISPERER
How Antonio Veloso fights for more ecological and sustainable business practices among our suppliers. Find out more here

Reducing our entire
footprint

Did you know that more than 80 percent of Deutsche Telekom's CO₂ footprint is not emitted by us at all? By far the largest share of CO₂ emissions is generated elsewhere: in the manufacture of our products by our suppliers (i.e. in the “upstream value chain”) and by our customers when they use our products (in the “downstream value chain”). We have also set ourselves a target for achieving a reduction in such emissions: by 2030, we aim to reduce all emissions resulting from the manufacture and use of Deutsche Telekom products by 25 percent per customer (using 2017 as our base year). To achieve this goal, we are working together with the suppliers who manufacture all those smartphones, network equipment, etc., on our behalf. We work together to create schedules for achieving energy savings and reduced CO₂ emissions in manufacturing processes. On top of this, we are working to ensure that the devices themselves become more efficient, so that our customers consume less energy when using
their devices.

We have developed the “we care” label to allow customers going forward to see the products and solutions in our portfolio that contribute to climate protection. The “we care" label will be introduced progressively to identify products, services, projects, actions and initiatives that make a substantial contribution to climate protection, to resource conservation or to resolving social challenges. A brief description provided underneath the symbol will answer specific questions on a product’s benefits in terms of sustainability, including such topics as whether it contains recycled material, whether the packaging is biodegradable or whether the product provides benefits in terms of
energy efficiency.

Focus on
efficiency

The very best way of reducing CO₂ emissions is by reducing energy consumption. That is why energy efficiency constitutes an important aspect of our climate protection strategy. We are updating all our networks and using energy-efficient technologies for lighting, monitoring and cooling systems at our data centers. One good example of our approach is provided by our data center at Biere near Magdeburg, which is not only one of the largest centers in Europe, but also one of the most efficient in the world. Its innovative cooling concept alone cuts its total energy requirements by about one third relative to comparable data centers. Our data center has been awarded the Gold LEED certification (LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for its innovative energy and environmental design.

30.000

servers can be accommodated at our data center in Biere. It is one of the most energy-efficient data centers in the world.

Scientifically
tested and
approved

Can companies like Deutsche Telekom make a really effective contribution to mitigating climate change by implementing strict climate targets? It was precisely this question that the Science Based Targets initiative set out to answer. Scientists in the body test whether the climate targets of companies correspond to the latest research – as well as whether they are really well designed to achieve the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement: to limit worldwide warming to below 2 degrees as compared against pre-industrial times. The Science Based Targets initiative has reviewed our climate targets and confirmed that Deutsche Telekom is one of the first three DAX-listed companies to support the Paris 2-degree target.

We make sure
our progress is
measurable

The actions we are taking on climate protection are aimed to help us achieve our goals. We measure whether we are getting there or not via two key indicators: by recording our energy consumption and our CO₂ footprint. We then compare those numbers against the volume of data flowing through our networks. In this way, we establish a direct link between our climate protection actions and the usage of our networks. This allows us to identify where we need to make tweaks to ensure that we reach our targets.

You can find more detailed information on our two key indicators under Energy and
CO₂-emissions

I fell
for it too

How we let ourselves be politically manipulated on the internet and how the web changes democracy - In the current focus topic "Democracy" we interview David Schraven, journalist and founder of the reporter team Correctiv.

The interview

Hand on heart, Mr. Schraven, have you yourself ever been taken in by fake news?

Sure I have. The aim of fake news is to undermine society. It normally plays with people’s expectations so effectively that it works. I, too, have been taken in – by a manipulated quote from a top politician. That makes it all the more important to me to learn from my experience. We need to check sources and their reliability. We tend to want to believe things that fit with our worldview, but that’s not how democracy works. We need to understand facts as a basis for forming an opinion.
Populists spread fake news, while trolls peddle hate speech. Filter bubbles narrow our perspective. People who spend a substantial amount of time online must assume they are subject to considerable manipulation. Is there any way to protect ourselves?

Hate speech can be reported – to the police if necessary – and trolls can be blocked. It’s important to take such action. The situation is trickier in cases of fake news, that is to say deliberate misinformation. These are normally very cleverly devised political campaigns intended to destroy our society from the inside out. We need to immunize our society if we are to counter them. By telling as many people as possible how the media operate. And by making people of all ages aware of the form fake news takes and how to spot it. We must be persistent and thorough, getting our message across online and also at schools, universities, and even retirement homes. I firmly believe that truth will ultimately prevail over lies.
You founded Correctiv to support people during their everyday media usage, to promote debate on important topics, and to encourage serious journalism. You also expose fake news. Can you briefly explain the approach taken by Correctiv’s journalists?

We adhere to very important principles. We check a news item’s sources, look for proof of facts, and also read studies and research on many different topics. We reveal our sources so that everyone can see the way we work – and also given that we know we, too, can make mistakes. Because we, too, are only human. And human error is a fact of life. If we work openly, people can spot our mistakes and correct us. That’s extremely important, because we admit our mistakes and correct ourselves when we do something wrong. These are all principles of the International Fact-Checking Network, to which we are fully committed.
Fake news is often snappy and sensational. Once you’ve read it, you don’t forget it. Only a small number of people look to see whether it has been verified by fact checkers. Does a fact check help anyone, though? Does the truth have any chance at all once fake news has been shared a thousand or even a million times?

In the case of Facebook, at least, we have the opportunity to contain fake news. If we check fake news posted on Facebook, a note to that effect is added to the associated link and/or photo, including retrospectively. If anyone then wants to share this news, they are first shown our verification report. It’s highly effective, significantly reducing the spread of that particular item of fake news. In the case of Google, our checks are normally displayed directly below the search result, with a reference to the fake news. This approach is important to us. We don’t want to delete anything, but people should at least be able to see and read our appraisal of the fake news so they can make up their own minds.
The Faktencheck website describes fake news as a danger to democracy. What do you mean by that?

When fake news is used to undermine our society, it turns people against one another. Instead of valuable, constructive debate, we get disputes and even violence in the streets. We’ve already seen this happen. We believe it’s important for people to be given reliable information. They can then overcome their differences and achieve something better together.
There are two sides to every story. Does that also apply to digital democracy? Does digitalization also have a positive impact on our democracy?

I firmly believe the positives outweigh the negatives. More people can help shape opinions. More people have access to education and reliable information. And more people can express themselves. I think society simply needs a little time to learn how to make the most of these possibilities. It took 400 years from the invention of printing for the German Empire to be abolished. That marked the first wave of the democratization of knowledge. An increasing number of people had access to education rather than just a chosen few. I hope the next step in this development will take less time to achieve. Ultimately, though, everything points in the same direction – more communication leads to more self-responsibility, more involvement, and more justice. Setbacks are only natural, but we’ll overcome them all. We just need to be patient.

Democracy
goes online

Instead of gossiping over a drink at regular after-work gatherings, people now take to Facebook, Twitter, and the like, and these digital platforms are also shaping our opinions. On the web, however, we are often unaware who it is we are chatting with and whether we are being told bare-faced lies. All too often, the aim of these uninvited guests is to manipulate us, for example by turning opinion against specific groups such as refugees. If this manipulation succeeds in influencing political opinion, it represents a real problem for our democracy. The team of reporters at Correctiv follows up online rumors, exposes fake news, and publishes the results of its research on the fact-checking website Faktencheck. Correctiv also offers workshops covering topics such as online opinion shaping that are open to anyone. Deutsche Telekom has been supporting Correctiv since 2018.

Championing democracy and a strong Europe

Deutsche Telekom believes in the European vision of shared prosperity and social security. Europe is not simply an economic community, but above all a community for peace – an idea of tolerance and diversity, of civic cooperation. The European idea is also based on the concept that the best way to achieve peace is through networking rather than putting up barriers. We should do everything in our power to get on with our neighbors and partners the world over. The web plays a key role in this regard, enabling people to share opinions and discuss solutions 24/7.

Shaping the future

than simply ensuring data protection and data security. We give as many people as possible access to the web and to education. And we’re passionately committed to improving the population’s media literacy. These are key prerequisites for ensuring digitalization inspires democracy rather than restricting it. A sound ethical foundation is vital, though, which is why we are calling for and encouraging macrosocial debate on responsible ways of shaping digitalization. We are setting a good example with our guiding principles on the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

Driving and shaping the digitalization process, we promote democratic ground rules for the internet and help people to form their own views. That’s our way of defending and safeguarding democracy. We want everyone to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities of digitalization to build a better future. Our brand campaign #TAKEPART makes it clear that we take responsibility in everything we do.

Providing the
know-how for
digital democracy

Digital democracy means being able to shape and influence with the click of a mouse, but these new opportunities also raise new questions. For example, how exactly does an online petition work? How do I recognize fake news and where can I find reliable, verified information? What is a filter bubble and how do I escape it? Deutsche Telekom’s “Media sure! But secure.” initiative combines a number of resources designed to promote online literacy and security.

SDG 4

Inclusive and equitable quality education

Our measures support the fourth goal of the United Nations Agenda 2030.

Ten fascinating learning modules have been published on the “#TAKEPART-STORIES” platform since the project started in 2018.

#TAKEPART-STORIES –
interactive learning reports

Our “#TAKEPART-STORIES” platform explains what digitalization does to us and how we can benefit from the opportunities it offers while also critically examining the risks involved. Topical issues relating to the vast expanses of the internet – from digital friendship and opinion making on the internet to the secrets of the darknet – are addressed in fun, fascinating learning modules that are easy to understand. The “Digital Democracy” learning module, for example, deals with digital phenomena from fake news to hate speech. It includes details on who to contact about hate speech on the web, and where to find information about factions and their agendas. People can keep clicking to independently explore the various topics in as much depth as they wish. Prepared workshops of differing lengths are available for groups of learners – not only in both English and German, but also in language that is easy to understand. They include suggestions for specific practical exercises to make joint learning a varied and entertaining experience.

Project ideas for children and young people

The Teachtoday initiative also addresses codetermination on the web and how to actively shape society. Teachers and parents will find good ideas for introducing children and young people to this topic and many others. One example is a project that teaches students how to “duel” respectfully in an online debate.

Over six million people used our various media literacy programs in 2018 alone.

We Care – the digital magazine for sustainability

In addition to telling the story of an assassination that gave birth to democracy, the “My vote counts” issue of We Care also explains why Grandpa always reads two newspapers, why voting is the smartest form of protest, and what could happen if Europe collapses. It shows how everyone can effectively help shape politics on the web.

The magazine

What shows the way?

If a breakthrough in technology changes our lives, we need to agree on a new set of rules. The new traffic regulations that were required when cars became widespread over 100 years ago are just one example. We also need new rules for the internet. These cannot be dictated by individuals. They must be established jointly. We are keen to contribute to this process. In the “Digital Responsibility” section of our corporate website, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of the digital world with experts. In 2018, we joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection and five other companies as founding members of the Corporate Digital Responsibility initiative.

Digitalization as such is neither positive nor negative to start with, but neutral. It is up to us to shape it responsibly. The same applies to artificial intelligence. We were one of the first companies in the world to formulate self-binding guiding principles on the ethical use of artificial intelligence. And because we are aware that this can only be the first step, we are continuously refining these guidelines in consultation with experts and stakeholders.

The starting point: secure access for all

If everyone is to be able to actively shape democracy on an equal footing, they need internet access. For a number of years now, we have been investing huge sums in expanding the network for this very reason. We already operate the largest fiber-optic network in Europe, covering a length of 500,000 kilometers in Germany alone. In addition to the further expansion of this network, we are also investing in the widest possible LTE coverage. In 2018, 98 percent of the German population could use LTE – and we are aiming to increase this to 99 percent by 2020. We are also working hard on rolling out the new, super-fast 5G standard.

Technical access is not the only vital aspect when it comes to strengthening digital democracy. People also need to have confidence in the security of systems and the protection of sensitive data. No one can offer one hundred percent security, but we at Deutsche Telekom do everything we can to ensure our customers’ data is in safe hands with us. Our infrastructure and, consequently, our customers’ data are protected by state-of-the-art cyber defense measures, and we ensure high data protection standards based on clear rules throughout the company.

SDG 9

Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

Our network expansion measures support the ninth goal of the United Nations Agenda 2030.

A clear stance -

According to the latest D21-Digital-Index study, some 13 million people in Germany are in digital no man’s land. They feel overwhelmed and even left behind by the pace of digitalization. We want to bring everyone into the digital society if possible. Everyone should have access to the diverse opportunities offered by digitalization. No one should be excluded. We enable people to have a stake in the digital world via our products and services.

The best possible network is the basis for this, which is why we are tirelessly driving forward network expansion. In March 2019, we initiated our #TAKEPART campaign to underline the importance of digital equality to Deutsche Telekom. The year-round special offers forming part of this campaign give everyone the chance to gain access to the digital world. “Life is for sharing” – but to experience how, you first have to take part. Further information (in German) is available at www.telekom.com/takepart.

„I make heating oil out of plastic waste.“

IT entrepreneur Günther Bonin and his maritime waste collection mission.

New ways to combat
plastic waste in the oceans

Researchers forecast that there will be more pieces of plastic in our oceans than fish by the year 2050. Over time, the plastic disintegrates into tiny micro particles that end up in our bodies through food. Munich-based IT entrepreneur and enthusiastic sailor Günther Bonin gave up his old life and founded the organization One Earth – One Ocean. His goal: Maritime waste collection that picks up plastic from the ocean. His vision: To turn plastic into fuel for ships in the medium term.

Simply save plastic We show in our sustainability magazine WeCare why 44 grams less plastic waste a day already helps, and what simple tricks can be used to avoid plastic. More information can be found here.

„Companies
sometimes make
it too easy
for themselves.“

An interview with Dr. Maja Göpel

We need to raise awareness about resource conservation not only in relation to plastic, but also in many other areas. Dr. Maja Göpel is familiar with the scope of the challenge and what it means for companies, politics and each individual consumer. She has been Secretary General of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) since September 1, 2017.
Ms. Göpel, you have been focusing on sustainability and resource conservation for many years. What is your personal motivation for this work?

I grew up with people who placed value on intact nature, peace on earth and social justice. My thoughts then were: “If that’s what everyone wants, why aren’t we as a society putting it into practice?” And since I’ve had children, the sense of responsibility to leave behind a planet you would have wanted yourself has grown even stronger.
How can we picture the work you do in the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU)?

The WBGU is a council that advises the government. Politics is often influenced by short-term requirements and individual interests. There also needs to be a voice that puts everything into a wider context and shows how these short-term changes add up to make a long-term impact. Every two years we publish a report in which we assess future economic and social developments and compare them with the goal of global sustainability. At the same time, we want to point out ways in which we can shape the developments accordingly. The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate accord serve as guides for our work.
It’s not just politics but also companies that need to contribute to more resource conservation. Are companies already assuming enough responsibility in your view?

I think that awareness in companies of their responsibility has risen rapidly over the past years. That’s essential, because politics also always needs a sign from business that supply security and competitiveness can be reinterpreted and implemented in a sustainable manner. But from my point of view, one major change still needs to be made. If we really want to make business models and production chains circular, in other words, in line with a closed-loop economy from cradle to grave, then we need a rethink along the entire value chain: from the selection of materials and extraction methods from the ground, to more durable product design and entirely new usage and business models. That requires new forms of collaboration, also across company boundaries and sectors.
The WBGU is currently preparing a new report that looks at the impact of digitalization on sustainable development. Do you think that the digital transformation can help save resources?

The finding from our report can be summarized as “both one and the other”. In any case, there’s great potential. This includes, for instance, shifting energy supply to renewables and energy use driven by actual demand through smart grids and smart buildings. Or digitally-supported precision farming and a digitally-supported circular economy. Other examples show that the answer is not always clear: Streaming services instead of DVDs may improve the resource balance, but above a certain streaming quality can worsen the CO2 balance.

So the question is: How can we conserve resources without radically ramping up the energy supply needed to operate all the new digital services? We can’t simply shift the problem. And another important question is: What does that do to people’s consumer habits? When exciting technological innovations replace current products that were actually still useful, it’s associated with a large boost in consumption. If smart clothing becomes a mass product, for instance, some people might want to replace their entire wardrobe. And because digital products rapidly become obsolete, the result will also be a rapid rise in the amount of electronic scrap. The raw materials used are often so small and melted during assembly that recycling becomes very difficult. So: The answer is not simple. We have to look at the whole picture rather than take a one-sided view of CO2 and energy figures.
Speaking of consumption: What possibilities do you see for persuading people to become more sustainable consumers?

As a consumer, I can only make a decision in connection with a given offer. If there are hardly any sustainable options on offer, that puts a tight limit on my power. And if environmental costs continue to be externalized, sustainable products will remain far more expensive. Responsibility for restructuring the offering therefore lies first and foremost with policy makers and companies – and consumers can then make their mark within that framework. Companies sometimes make it too easy for themselves. A car maker can’t run one ad after another touting its SUVs and then say that its customers don’t want smaller cars. Sometimes it’s worth thinking about the extent to which companies use their marketing messages to suggest what we must have in order to lead a good life. And ask ourselves: Will my life really be worse if I drive a smaller car, eat less meat or take fewer trips by plane? Or: What could these companies change in their value chain with this marketing budget?

Stop waste

Deutsche Telekom operates in a particularly dynamic economic sector. Digitalization is progressing rapidly, with many devices already being outdated within a short space of time – a challenge in terms of resource preservation. At the same time, digitalization represents a great opportunity: In industry, for example, digital applications help companies better plan their production processes and optimize their raw material consumption. Technologies and apps can also help consumers waste fewer resources, for example, by sharing things with each other online instead of buying something new.

We too are making our contribution to a more resource-efficient future. That applies to developing products as much as to the processes at our company.

Develop resource-efficient products

We have worked together with our suppliers for many years to bring products to market that are as resource-efficient as possible. Even small changes can make a big impact: In 2017, for instance, we began reducing the size of SIM card holders by half. We were thus able to save 1.4 metric tons of plastic in 2018; that will grow to around 17.5 metric tons in 2019. We are also forerunners when it comes to the certification of our fixed-line products with the Blue Angel environmental label. And for more than 15 years, we have been collecting used mobile devices and giving them a longer life span through professional reconditioning – or ensuring proper recycling of valuable resources.

Digitalization:
curb the appetite for resources

Virtualization means that products are being replaced by digital services. For instance, consumers who store their photos and files in the cloud and dispense with their own hard drive are thus reducing raw material consumption – because no hard drive means no raw materials are used, less electricity is consumed and no waste is produced. The Internet of Things, on the other hand, allows things to be connected with each other. Waste containers can signal to the municipal utility if they are empty so that unnecessary trips are avoided.

But this increased connectivity also has a downside: Digital applications use electricity and the demand for energy is constantly growing. We ensure that operation of our networks is as energy efficient as possible. This includes pooling our data traffic in a few, highly efficient data centers. Another challenge is the growing demand for metallic raw materials for electronic devices. We are therefore looking into innovative methods for reclaiming valuable metals from electronic waste.

Sustainably digital

You can find more information about how smart products and solutions from Deutsche Telekom can make life more sustainable in the CR Report.

More efficient processes:
Just put good ideas into practice

The longstanding commitment to resource conservation at our company now has a new name: “Stop Wasting – Start Caring!” Our CEO Tim Höttges launched the initiative in September 2018. All employees are encouraged to contribute their ideas for reducing plastic and packaging material and for employing resources as efficiently as possible in line with the circular economy concept. And this appeal has gone down well: There’s lively discussion of new ideas on Deutsche Telekom’s own social network, and the first ideas are already being implemented.

“ We simply need
to adopt a more sustainable manner
of thinking in
everything we do.

Timotheus Höttges CEO Deutsche Telekom

What we’re doing
to conserve
resources.

We want to improve the responsible use of resources in all stages of our value chain, both within our company and with our suppliers and customers. We have already been working with our suppliers for years on finding ways and opportunities to make ICT products as resource-efficient as possible. By reducing packaging, we reduce waste for our customers. We are also forerunners when it comes to collecting used devices and having our fixed-line products certified with the Blue Angel environmental label. In addition to this, we are notably promoting resource conservation by virtualizing our products. And thanks to our network, it’s easier to make use of “sharing economy” offerings that contribute to resource conservation by dispensing with bought goods. With our “Stop Wasting – Start Caring!” initiative, we gave even more emphasis to resource conservation at our company in 2018.

SDG 12

Saving our natural resources

The strategy of avoiding waste is our contribution to the twelfth United Nations SDG, to save our natural resources.

We’re helping to reduce the
mountains of waste.

volunteer Green Pioneers are committed to saving resources at the company.

„Stop Wasting
– Start Caring!“

The aim of our “Stop Wasting –Start Caring!” initiative is to use and recycle resources as efficiently as possible in line with the concept of a circular economy – for example, by reducing the amount of plastic, paper, and packaging we use even further and avoiding it wherever possible. In September 2018, Tim Höttges called on all employees to join in the initiative in their own work environment. Existing and new innovative measures and programs will be presented in the You and Me (YAM) internal social network so that we can learn from and inspire one another. Many new ideas have already been developed and initial measures implemented in connection with the initiative: In one unit, quick guides for customers will now only be printed on demand for individual orders, eliminating preproduction and storage. Around 20 dedicated colleagues have banded together in the “Stop Wasting - Start Caring!” core team. In keeping with its name, the team examines core processes at the company: from product design to device management, always looking for ways to leverage greater resource conservation.

In January 2019, we launched the “Green Pioneers” movement. Some 80 employees from 25 cities have signed up and taken on the role of sustainability ambassador. On their own initiative they develop green ideas for greater sustainability at Deutsche Telekom: from motion detectors in restrooms to lower electricity costs for lighting, or the “flower meadow instead of golfing green” idea to attract more insects and birds at Deutsche Telekom locations, to the Magenta ride-sharing agency for employees. More Green Pioneers will strengthen the movement during this year.

A cloud that conserves resources

With cloud computing, our customers no longer need to be bothered with their own servers and storage media. Cloud computing is more resource and energy-efficient than running your own infrastructure outside of the cloud. Our data centers require up to 80 percent less energy thanks to more effective capacity utilization and less hardware.

Less is more

One example of resource conservation is the new Speedport PRO router. Its inner workings consist of recycled plastic. To protect it during transport, we use PaperFoam – a material made of industrial starch, cellulose fibers and water that can be disposed of with paper waste or composted. By reducing packaging, we also reduce waste for our customers. Since 2017 we have been using two new packaging machines that produce custom-fit boxes for our products. This also results in up to 95 percent less filling material.

Dedicated to
a longer
life for devices

22 . 9

T-Mobile USA has been able to resell 22.9 million electronic devices since 2008.

Recycling and reuse of devices plays an important role for us – the same is true for our national companies. One example is the OTE Group: It is one of the first companies in Greece to recondition modems and TV decoders. Returned devices are given a comprehensive check, repaired and returned to use. If repair is not possible, the equipment goes to licensed disposal companies where it is recycled in a professional and environmentally friendly manner. In 2018, the Group collected more than 190,000 devices and more than 170,000 of them could be reconditioned for use.

In the USA, mobile customers can turn in their electronic devices to T-Mobile USA to have them recycled – whether a cellphone, battery, accessory, tablet or laptop, and regardless of brand and model. These devices are also reconditioned to be returned to use or, if that's not possible, they are recycled. Since 2008, more than 22.9 million devices have been resold. In 2018 alone, T-Mobile USA collected almost 4 million used cellphones.

Turning electronic scrap into treasure

In light of the switch to IP technology and the dismantling of analog infrastructures, we will disassemble tons of old electronics over the coming years. We intend to recover precious metals such as gold and tantalum from the scrap. However, we don’t yet have suitable recycling methods for all metals, such as for tantalum, which is produced from coltan ore. Coltan ore is classed as a conflict mineral because it mainly comes from civil war regions in the DR Congo where human rights violations are frequently committed. Together with the bifa Umweltinstitut environmental institute, we are working on the most suitable method of recovering tantalum from electronic scrap.

Closing the circle

Resources used must be fully returned to the production process after the product’s or good’s lifecycle has ended. We have to stop being a throwaway society and become a circular economy. To learn about how we are promoting the circular economy, click here.

True or false?

Question 1 out of 5

Computers are capable of creating works of art

Question 2 out of 5

Artificial intelligence can recognize the spread of infectious diseases such as coronavirus faster than the World Health Organization (WHO).

Question 3 out of 5

Computers can figure out what we are like as a person based on a few likes on social networks.

Question 4 out of 5

Computers are being deployed as court judges.

Question 5 out of 5

Ultimately, humans are also just algorithms.

Algo-what?

Humans vs. machines

All just a product of our imagination?

Privacy was nothing more than a phase that is now over. (Mae Holland)

Look out that window. You had your time. The future is our time.(Agent Smith)

I would rather die a man, than live for all eternity a machine. (Andrew)

The potential for a better world

Power through the network

#TAKEPART – our top priority

Skills needed

What we do

Our guidelines for artificial intelligence

Leading by example

Center for Humane Technology

AlgorithmWatch

Unfuck the world

Chaos Computer Club e.V.

OpenAI

Frag den Staat ("Ask the State")

Global Digital Women

Initiatives against hate on social media

Reporterfabrik - CORRECTIV

Crowdfunding

Shaping the future together

A better digital society is possible.

Everyday life goes digital

and join in

Seriously?

Stay connected

Respect!

How we are encouraging digital participation

Spades at the ready!

Internet access is not a luxury

All aboard

More than literacy

Our cooperation partners

1Juuuport e.V. (since 2017)

2ZDK Gesellschaft Demokratische Kultur / Hass hilft (since 2017)

3Reporterfabrik – CORRECTIV (since 2018)

4managerfragen (since 2019)

5Gesicht Zeigen! Für ein weltoffenes Deutschland e.V. (since 2009)

#TAKEPART

Are summers like the one we’ve just had normal?

Trees for the climate

Planting trees at click-by-click

We need to act

The internet – climate ally or climate enemy?

Climate protection is our top priority

Our network is becoming green

We’re making a big commitment

A 100 percent green network – how is that possible?

Reducing our entire footprint

Focus on efficiency

Scientifically tested and approved

We make sure our progress is measurable

I fellfor it too

Democracy goes online

Championing democracy and a strong Europe

Shaping the future

Providing theknow-how fordigital democracy

SDG 4

#TAKEPART-STORIES –interactive learning reports

Project ideas for children and young people

We Care – the digital magazine for sustainability

What shows the way?

The starting point: secure access for all

SDG 9

A clear stance -

„I make heating oil out of plastic waste.“

Privacy was nothing more than a phase that is now over.
(Mae Holland)

Look out that window. You had your time. The future is our time.
(Agent Smith)

Chaos Computer
Club e.V.

Are summers like
the one we’ve
just had normal?

A 100 percent green network
– how is that possible?

Reducing our entire
footprint

Focus on
efficiency

Scientifically
tested and
approved

We make sure
our progress is
measurable

I fell
for it too

Democracy
goes online

Providing the
know-how for
digital democracy

#TAKEPART-STORIES –
interactive learning reports

New ways to combat
plastic waste in the oceans

„Companies
sometimes make
it too easy
for themselves.“

Digitalization:
curb the appetite for resources

More efficient processes:
Just put good ideas into practice

“ We simply need
to adopt a more sustainable manner
of thinking in
everything we do.

What we’re doing
to conserve
resources.

We’re helping to reduce the
mountains of waste.

„Stop Wasting
– Start Caring!“

Dedicated to
a longer
life for devices