One of UNEP’s most successful efforts in the digital space is the International Methane Emissions Observatory, which uses satellite data and machine learning to detect methane leaks from oil and gas installations. The system notified companies and governments of 1,066 releases from 1 January to 30 September 2024. The alerts prompted action to plug major leaks in Algeria and Nigeria, preventing the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to those 1 million cars would produce over a year. 

The Digital Accelerator Lab, launched in May 2024, features 20 digital applications and prototypes. These include the Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer, which allows users to access high-resolution maps of lakes, rivers and other sources of freshwater, and track their extent over time. The Strata platform spotlights areas where environmental stressors, like climate change, overlap with conflict and socio-economic challenges, helping decision makers prioritize responses and foster peacebuilding. 

UNEP is also working to ensure that new technologies do not harm the environment. Ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, UNEP released Artificial Intelligence (AI) End-to-End, which offered seven recommendations for minimizing AI’s impact on the planet. Those included establishing global standards for measuring AI’s environmental footprint.