Technology has transformed the world, evolving society itself with advancements like printing, navigation, medicine, aviation, wireless, and the internet. But, with time, it became clear that it wasn’t always that these had a net positive impact, and that we need to start developing a world focused on the greater good of society.

Technology For Good (or Tech4Good) is a much broader and inclusive approach that applies exponential technologies capable of addressing critical challenges in the most sustainable way.

Tech For Good: A deeper sustainable perspective

Technology For Good is a comprehensive perspective that allows one to take a step back from techno-solutionism and hyped fads, and understand the dynamics that exist within the various elements of an ecosystem- people, culture, economics, history, and information.

Crucially, integrating all this information and developing a technology that impacts everyone in a positive manner is Tech4Good.

Sustainability with Tech For Good

Sustainable development, according to the UN World Commission on Environment and Development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Sustainability can only be achieved by keeping the people (or the living beings) at the core of any development, and this very concept is the integral theme of the Tech4Good approach. Therefore, the fabric of sustainable innovation can be created only if it serves the dual purpose – the positive impact on humanity and taking the global challenges head-on.

Below are the top innovations for promoting better and sustainable living:

Green Cloud Computing Approaches and practices where computing and IT innovations have potential environmental benefits are grouped under green cloud computing.

Green Cloud computing is very efficient for users as it ensures no data loss. It enables a reduction in carbon emissions by 88% and energy consumption by 87%, while also providing ease of working for its users and increasing the efficiency of the process.

Edge Computing Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm – an architecture that stores data locally in the nearby device on the site of its creation. This is expected to improve response times, reduce data traffic, save bandwidth, reduce energy usage, and consequently carbon emissions.

Edge computing allows retrofitting, i.e. adding new technology to pre-existing infrastructure, reducing the e-waste generated due to replacement.

IoT Sensors IoT (or Internet of Things) sensors are the hardware pieces to detect changes in the environment and collect data. These sensors are a part of an IoT ecosystem that bridge the physical world to the digital one.

IoT sensors may detect changes in temperature, pressure, PM, Co2 levels, motion etc. They share this data with the network they are connected to. This information is crucial for detecting and solving environmental problems.

IoT sensors can also be used in infrastructures to track, analyse, and optimise energy consumption. For instance, IBM has developed a low-cost IoT sensor to detect methane leaks, a global warming contributor and hazardous gas.

Artificial Intelligence

Considered one of the most revolutionary human developments, AI has immense transformative capabilities, empowering the world with some cutting-edge solutions.

From developing new drugs to tracking the human trafficking rackets, optimising energy generation and consumption, and helping people with disabilities- AI is currently bringing radical innovations to the mainstream- making our lives more sustainable than ever imagined.

It can be utilised in many ways to reduce its carbon footprint by managing and tracking its impacts on the environment. Google used DeepMind to reduce the energy consumption of its data centres, and its cooling cost by 40%. AI can be used to create green and clean energy grids, for eco-friendly agriculture, to enhance the sustainability of supply chains, and for monitoring the environment.

Blockchain

The decentralised, immutable, and transparent nature of blockchain technology is the key to harnessing innumerable applications for good. Constant innovations and humanitarian efforts with a positive environmental impact have been the salient features of blockchain that encourage newer and better models from authorised participation. Above that, it also facilitates tracking and monitoring of parameters, while ensuring informed decision-making.

The Tech For Good approach

Placing technology in the context of society, people, and culture is not as simple as downloading an app, or demonstrating a new cookstove, or building a website- those “simple” problems have already been solved.

Tech4Good challenges, on the other hand, are more complex. They are the ones that allow the world to tweak both the available tools and the understanding of their applications; to consider historical activities alongside cultural considerations for the usage of technology; to consider that solving any one particular part of a problem is a gateway to newer unanticipated problems.

The Tech4Good lens is a motivation to look beyond the small scope of the technology itself, and place it within an appropriate context.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Sustainable Living With “Tech4Good” appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Carbon dioxide levels are record high (and rising). The effects of global warming can be seen everywhere around – the past decade has been the hottest ever, ice caps on the poles are the lowest, and extremes of weather – increased floods, droughts, apocalyptic fires, storms, cyclones, etc., are the new normal. Besides, the world is experiencing a sharp collapse of biodiversity, accelerated spread of the deserts, and warming up of the oceans (enhanced by chokes due to plastic waste).

According to a study, unless the world cuts its fossil fuel consumption by 6% every year until the year 2030, things are going to get worse. Instead, it is at a course of a 2% rise annually. Global efforts, such as that by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) and the Paris agreement have limited the global warming levels to 1.50C.

Carbon Neutrality: The only potential solution for a sustainable future

Carbon neutrality is the congregation of strategies to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while ensuring sustainable economic and social growth for all that is simply not contingent on resource use. It is the very DNA of the Convention.

Failure to comply with the carbon neutrality principles could have devastating effects, especially for the economically disadvantaged (and other vulnerable) sections of the society – who have contributed insignificantly to global warming but stand to lose the most out of it.

“Science is clear:  if we fail to meet these goals, the disruption to economies, societies, and people caused by COVID-19 will pale in comparison to what the climate crisis holds in store”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Achieving carbon neutrality – efficiently and economically

Broadly speaking, the number of countries that have been pledging to adopt a sustainable model for realising the carbon-neutral goals has been on a rise. The key features of a sustainable carbon neutrality model include net-zero (or stable) energy systems that are affordable and ensure universal energy access and enable robust economic growth in the world. A dynamic, clean, and resilient energy economy is an essential component of the model.

Let’s find out how the world strategies on building carbon-neutral earth.

Building a truly global coalition for carbon neutrality Every institution, organisation, and company should focus on cutting down the global emissions to 45% by the year 2030. Technological advancements provide the necessary leverage. Economic analysis suggests that running a coal plant is more financially draining than building a new renewable plant from scratch.

Further, the International Labour Organisation confirms that even though the technology is the cause of an inevitable job loss, transitioning to cleaner energy alternatives would create 18 million ‘green’ jobs by the year 2030.

In order to balance this transition, it is essential to recognise the human cost of decarbonisation, while supporting the workers with social protection and re-skilling (and up-skilling) them appropriately.

Aligning global finance with the Paris Agreement and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) lays down the blueprint for a better future for the world. Initiatives like

• Replacing subsidies on coal (and fossil fuel) with those for the renewable energy sources

• Shifting the tax burden from taxpayers to the polluters of the environment

• Mandating the financial risk disclosure

• Integrating carbon neutrality goals in all fiscal and economic decision-making

• Banks aligning their lending with net-zero objectives

• Asset owners and managers decarbonising their portfolios

• Securing a breakthrough in adaptation and resilience

This is especially urgent for small island (and developing) states, where climate change has been an existential threat to its inhabitants.

With adaptation denoting only 20% of the climate finance, it hinders the global efforts to ensure a reduction in disaster risk. Increasing the share, however, could yield better ROI- a smarter way to invest.

The pathway is narrow, yet achievable

Reaching net-zero emissions globally by 2050 is a critical and formidable goal. Realising this goal hinges on an unprecedented application of clean and efficient energy technologies (and innovation) – those that already exist, with respective driving policies right in place.

Nevertheless, it is impossible to scale and accelerate the transition to net neutrality without the participation and undying support from the citizens. An unwavering and singular focus from all governments to work in a coalition is the prime need of the hour.

Coordination is the key to sustaining life on Earth.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Green Growth For A Carbon Neutral World By 2050 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The alarming levels of global warming (and subsequent climate change) are a direct indicator of the widened gap between the reality of CO2 emission and the goals. A global climate-conscious effort is now the need of the hour and an essentially sustainable lifestyle that also facilitates the survival of our very own nature.

History has witnessed impressive human capabilities to bring significant changes- be it the discovery and use of fossil fuels (that led to the first industrial revolution), or the search for alternative sources of energy (to cater to the growing demands across the globe while the conventional sources of energy are at the brink of exhaustion).

While companies like Tesla are disrupting the transport industry with their introduction of electric cars and quad bikes, these initiatives fail to be enough given the rate at which the world is still dependent on fossil fuels to meet its global energy demands.

According to the latest IPCC reports, the average annual GHG emissions were at their highest levels during the past decade. While the growth rate of emissions has slowed, limiting global warming to the targeted 1.50C levels is unlikely, owing to a lack of immediate and deep emissions reduction across all sectors.

“It’s now or never if we want to limit global warming to 1.50C. Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible”, IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Jim Skea.

Innovative solutions and accelerated technological advancement, in sync with sincere human efforts and grit, are a way to sail humanity out of the climate mess (that the world is experiencing currently).

Green Technology to combat climate change

Some integral solutions for efficient and transparent carbon management are classified under the umbrella term – Green Technology. This strategy is gaining momentum in the wake of rising concerns to address global warming and climate change. AIoT, Big Data, and blockchain are powerful technologies that hold the promise to beat climate change.

AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things)

A myriad of databases and backend systems are involved to categorise and organise huge chunks of data from multiple business units. This requires the employment of an equal volume of manual labour. Integrating AIoT to this segment would enable seamless sourcing of data depicting real-time activity levels. It also provides an asset inventory from a plethora of systems.

This technology leverages the structuring, collection, and transformation capabilities, thereby facilitating accurate monitoring and measurement of the emission levels. Additionally, it reduces overall efforts for data collection and enhances data quality (and report resolution).

AIoT also helps in creating insights based on real-time data. Thus, accurate process emissions can be effectively predicted by analysing this data. This can efficiently refine the evaluation of the performance of abatement measures and reduce the overall marginal abatement costs.

Big Data

Historical and real-time big data solutions can help in identifying pressure points by locating sources of harmful emissions and their respective concentrations. The technology ensures transformative change by tapping the potentials within available data- advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Blockchain

The decentralised network of blockchain offers smart contract features that enable automate the enforcement of climate policies and regulations. In addition, it also enables the programming of incentives for businesses, individuals, and governments to comply with sustainable practices. Thus, smart contracts act as an incredible tool for mass participation in green practices globally.

Being in its nascent stage, green smart contracts have not enjoyed popularity in the past. With rapid growth over the past decade and intersection with other upcoming technologies, conscious efforts are giving it the required boost.

Tech alone can’t fix it

Technology offers sustainable solutions to manage global CO2 levels, enabling the world to meet net-zero pledges. However, technology has never been the cause of this climate mess. It is, therefore, logical not to put too much faith in it to be able to solve it entirely. Strong societal, political, and economic agendas are the driving factors for the application (and integration) of these advancements for realising the net-zero targets.

Technology is, certainly, a part of the solution. Nevertheless, it is only effective with collective human will and action.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

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