How Modern Technology Will Help Us Achieve the SDGs

 

One of the reasons many people worry about having to join the fight against climate change is this idea that in order to reverse the damage we have to let go of all our creature comforts.

Let’s face it: we have it pretty good in this modern era, with technology helping us do everything faster, bigger and better. Having to let go of all these advantages, even if it’s for the greater good, is not something that sounds easy or fun.

The truth is technology is not an evil entity that can hold all the blame for climate change. In fact technology may prove to be one of our major assets when it comes to developing and enacting a successful battle to save the planet.

Let’s look at how.

The first modern advantage we’ll look at is big data.

Such a massive global undertaking is going to produce an overwhelming amount of information that needs sorting and analyzing in order to be properly used. Big data will prove to be an amazing tool when it comes to uncovering the routes we need to take to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Data-Pop Alliance serves as a great example of how technological innovations will help us win the war against climate change. This amazing initiative conceived and run by many of our greatest minds aims to take the power and knowledge big data brings us and use it to create a better world.

The initiative has partnered with UNSSC to further the presence of big data, offering online courses and in-person training designed to strengthen the data-collecting and –interpreting skills of UN workers.

Considering the important role the UN plays in reducing conflict, promoting development and improving human lives this modern way of accessing, sorting and interpreting data is a definite asset that cannot be overlooked. Big data will help our greatest warriors fight the eco-battles that will save humanity.

Much like big data, artificial intelligence will prove to be an amazing asset when it comes to achieving the SDGs. AI is changing how we manage our systems and by handing the reins over to a non-human manager we have the real chance to reach new levels of conservation and green living.

Already you can see how ingrained it is becoming in modern society, with smart home systems allowing people to reduce energy consumption in empty homes.

Many great minds are working on more ways to unite AI and the SDGs and there are incentives that have been set up to offer the proverbial carrot to keep going. Take the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE for example. This global competition urges humanity’s innovators to uncover new ways AI can be used to reach the 2030 Agenda.

Nectar is another example of the great things an AI-SDG partnership can achieve. This platform is a modern way for modern beekeepers to manage their apiaries, keeping track of the bees’ productivity and analyzing and predicting what their future holds. Considering how vital bees are to our food production this innovation could prove to be our saving grace.

Achieving the SDGs is very important and AI is definitely one of the vital tools we can use as we pursue the goals.

The final element of modern technology that is vital in the pursuit to achieve the 2030 Agenda is biotech (or biotechnology).

Biotech is the truest example of humanity using our superior intelligence to make a better world. Thanks to this innovation we are now growing and creating smarter and more sustainably, improving our access to needed elements like food and medicine.

Innovators from Amyris and Aquabounty to Zenith Epigenetics and Zymeworks are reimagining how we relate to our bodies by advancing our agricultural and medical processes.

These companies will radically improve our lives and help to ensure we reduce hunger (SDG 2), improve our health (SDG 3), best use our farming land (SDG 12) and treat our food sources properly (SDG 14 and 15).

Clearly biotech is a huge advantage and something we need to use in our quest to change the world.

We know technology has provided us with enormous benefits and now it is time to use the innovations born from technology to ensure our world continues. Big data, AI and biotech have so much potential to improve everything we do. Let’s use them to fully realize the SDGs.