Shared purpose and focus

• The group aligned on advancing decarbonisation strategies for publishers, keeping both print and digital emissions in scope and recognising their complementary roles rather than framing them as competitors.

AI as a priority issue

• Participants highlighted the rapid growth of AI in publishing - from content discovery to internal workflows - and the lack of consistent methods for measuring its environmental impact, particularly when comparing pre‑ and post‑AI scenarios.

Digital and print in context

• Discussion emphasised the importance of contextualising emissions, acknowledging that different formats serve different user needs and should be assessed based on opportunity and use case rather than direct substitution.

User behaviour matters

• There was strong interest in understanding how reader behaviour influences emissions, and what role publishers can realistically play in informing and shaping more sustainable patterns of use.

Supply chain engagement

• Managing Scope 3 emissions was identified as a key challenge, with particular focus on cloud providers, technology suppliers, and production partners such as typesetters and printers. Sharing best‑practice guidance across supplier categories was seen as a valuable group output.

Regulation and compliance

• Participants noted increasingly complex and varied regulatory requirements across regions, identifying a clear need for practical guidance tailored to publisher realities.

Ethics and licensing considerations: The group discussed publishers’ limited visibility and influence over how licensed content is used in AI systems, alongside broader ethical and environmental considerations beyond carbon.

Tool evolution: Strong interest was expressed in reviewing and evolving existing digital emissions tools to ensure they remain fit for purpose in an AI‑enabled publishing landscape.

The session set a clear agenda for future meetings, with agreed focus areas including user behaviour, AI and cloud infrastructure, supply chain engagement, regulation and compliance, and print versus digital strategy. The group will develop shared guidance, best practices and supplier engagement approaches to support publishers navigating a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape.