Sustainable Tech in the Age of AI: Myth, Opportunity, or Necessity?
Artificial intelligence is reshaping software development, automation, web and graphic design. But as AI adoption accelerates, digital solutions are consuming more energy, water, raw materials, and infrastructure capacity — pushing up against planetary boundaries. Is sustainable technology development a myth, an opportunity, or an urgent necessity in our current climate crisis?
What to expect from this session?
This session explores the environmental and social impacts of artificial intelligence. We will look beyond the screen to examine the full value chain: from raw material extraction for chips, to the energy and water demands of data centres, to the global supply chains behind digital infrastructure.
Together, participants will discuss practical approaches to more sustainable technology development, including responsible design, efficient software engineering, and more conscious use of AI.
Who should attend?
The event targets corporate executives as well as developers, designers, startups, students, and anyone interested in future technologies. It is especially relevant for people who want to integrate environmental and social responsibility into the way technology is designed, built, bought, and used.
Agenda
18:00 – Doors open
18:30 – Welcoming Words – Lauriane Tiard-Caillaud, French Tech Hamburg, Vice-President.
18:35 – Myth or Reality: Keynote on State of software development practices – Judith Götter & Michael Maczan, Sopra Steria
18:50 – Necessity: Potential Environmental and Social Threats – Thorsten Jonas, SUX
19:05 – Opportunities - Best Practice Sharing and/or Building – Jochen Joswig & Nikolas Becker, Green Software Foundation
19:30 – Conclusion and 10 Principles of Green Software in the AI Era - Anita Schüttler, neuland
19:50 – Networking
The Partners
About Sopra Steria
Sopra Steria is a leading European management and technology consulting company with expertise in consulting, digital services, and software development. The group supports organizations in driving digital transformation and achieving tangible, sustainable outcomes by combining deep industry knowledge, innovative technologies, and a collaborative approach. With people at the heart of everything it does, Sopra Steria is committed to using digital technology to help build a positive future for all. Follow Sopra on Linkedin
About French Tech Hamburg
French Tech Hamburg is a community of volunteer founders and tech & investment enthusiasts in Hamburg. La Tech Hambourg aims to create a unique Franco-German ecosystem locally, regularly bringing together innovative French and German start-ups, local businesses, investors, decision-makers and community builders. Follow La Tech Hambourg on Linkedin.
About the SUX Network
The Sustainable UX (SUX) Network is a non-profit initiative and global community with the mission to make sustainability default in the design process and in all digital products, services and experiences. They act on various levels by driving collaboration with our community and open events, enabling action with our resources and open resource collection, evangelizing through talks and workshops and educating through our courses. Follow SUX Network on Linkedin
About Green Software Meetup Hamburg
As part of the Green Software Foundation's global meetup network, the Green Software Meetup Hamburg is a local collaboration between individuals from various companies and universities in the Hamburg area and organizes monthly events about Green Software, Green IT, and sustainability topics - inviting well-known speakers and experts to share their insights and knowledge with the community. Follow the Green Software Meetup Series Hamburg on Meetup
The Speakers
Judith Götter
Judith is a Sustainability & CSR professional at Sopra Steria, focusing on organisational strategy, governance, communication, and cultural change. She works at the intersection of sustainability, digital transformation, and corporate responsibility, translating strategic sustainability goals into concrete organisational action.
Michael Maczan
Michael is Digital Sustainability Officer at Sopra Steria with a strong focus on customer impact. He supports organisations in embedding sustainability into digital solutions and AI-driven initiatives, helping clients turn digital sustainability into measurable value.
Lauriane Tiard-Caillaud
Lauriane is an entrepreneur, founder in femtech and an environmental/green tech activist, digital collage moderator. She serves as founding member and the vice-president of French Tech Hamburg.
Jochen Joswig
Jochen Joswig is a Green Software Champion and Lead Software Engineer at MaibornWolff GmbH. A recognized expert in decarbonizing digital systems, he co-authored the Green Software Manifesto and served as Project Lead for the CNCF’s TAG env landscape project. An accomplished author and speaker, Jochen Joswig is dedicated to improving software sustainability and using technology as a tool to support the sustainability transition.
Thorsten Jonas
Thorsten is a digital Sustainability Expert, Designer and Activist, responsible AI advocate and Sustainable UX Trailblazer. He is the founder of the non-profit SUX Network and SUX Academy, keynote-speaker, advisor and trainer for digital sustainability, sustainable UX and responsible AI, invited expert at the W3C for Web Sustainability, author and the host of the SUX Podcast.
Nikolas Becker
Nikolas Becker heads the Politics & Science division of the German Informatics Society (Gesellschaft für Informatik) and serves as its organization lead to the Green Software Foundation.
Anita Schüttler
Anita Schüttler is a computer scientist and expert in digital sustainability and Green Software. As the Head of IT Sustainability of neuland, Bremen, and Co-Chair of the Bundesverband Green Software she works on advancing digital sustainability in her company and the wider IT industry.