Digital Sustainable Co-Transformation: the 2nd Greenpeace-hosted Digital Transformation Conference for non-profits

A space to share, reflect and rethink non-profits' missions and values in the context of technology

Digital technologies continue to reshape our world. While we can observe that their permeation into all aspects of life has significant environmental impact, we can also see a powerful opportunity at the intersection of innovation and responsibility: digital-sustainable co-transformation. Greenpeace International invites all leaders and practitioners of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), registered charities or civil society organisations to explore how we can seize this opportunity at the 2^nd Digital Transformation Conference, on October 23rd, 2025.

This year's conference theme is inspired by the joint case study between Greenpeace Germany and Leuphana University Lueneburg that offers insights into how at Greenpeace we take a value-based approach to manage digital transformation. The goal is to gather, exchange and learn how our sector can lead the digital-sustainable co-transformation charge, in the modern world.

Why co-transformation is so critical for non-profit organisations

The climate crisis, tech dependency, resource scarcity and digital inequality are shared challenges for all value-driven organisations trying to engage, fundraise, lobby, deliver aid or win campaigns. We are forced to use Big Tech to run operations, have online presences in oligarch-owned social media and confront billionaires already planning the techno-capitalism era, but do we have the tools to do this? Do we fully understand the social impact of AI, for our work? Is a carbon-free digital footprint possible, in the cloud-based era? Using digital technology inevitably raises the digital sustainability dilemma: while it can help us improve sustainability, the technology itself is not sustainable.

The conference aims to gather tech specialists in the sector to discuss these digital sustainability issues. However, we want this to be more than an event. We want this to be our space to share, reflect and rethink our role in shaping digital tools and our society's digital transformation in line with our missions and values. Cross-sector exchange massively boosts shared understanding and stronger strategies, especially when resources are limited and ambitions are high.

Why this space is only for non-profits and value-driven organisations

The success of the 2024 event brought in some rightful questions to the organising team: why is the event only for nonprofits, academia and civil society? Wouldn't it be better to open the event to everyone, including Big Tech representatives? How is this conference different from other spaces?

This conference is a safe space for nonprofit technology leaders to speak freely and exchange thoughts about the common challenges we face and what civil societies can create, propose and develop without solely (or mostly) relying on vendors. All attendees will be asked to provide a .org email address or proof of their affiliation with a non-profit organisation to ensure the eligibility of participants and prevent corporate members from attending using private email addresses.

Agenda and speakers

While it gets finalised, the agenda already looks packed and inspirational, with sessions covering:

• Digital and sustainability goals in nonprofit organisations;
• The digital afterlife and circular tech systems;
• Exploring ethical tech and nonprofits relationship with Big Tech;
• The carbon cost of connectivity and rethinking digital infrastructure;
• AI and the future of nonprofit work;

Colleagues from Aldeias SOS Portugal, Algorithm Watch, Amnesty International, Avaaz, Beyond Fossil Fuels, Internet Society Foundation, Loughborough University, Norwegian Refugee Council, Tactical Tech, University of Agder, University of Amsterdam, University of Münster, University of St. Gallen, Wikimedia Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, UNDP, 350.org and various Greenpeace organisations have already agreed to join as presenters, speakers or moderators.

Luca Tiralongo is the Head of Digital Transformation and Maria Julia van Boekel Cheola Torres is a Digital Transformation Analyst for Greenpeace International. They are part of the Greenpeace International Digital Transformation Support Centre (DXSC).

Dr. Markus Zimmer is an information systems researcher who studies organisations' digital transformation, responsible digital transformation and responsible AI.

To know more about how Greenpeace is working with Technology and its Digital Transformation journey, please reach out to the DXSC Team.