The Roundtable on SDG 9 and 17 “Partnerships for inclusive and sustainable digital development" of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region will take place on 29 March 2023 from 15:00 to 18:00 CET. It will be held in a hybrid format, online and in WMO Premises in Geneva, Switzerland. The Roundtable is co-organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the contribution of UNEP, UNIDO and UN Women.

The need to address green and digital transitions jointly and the link that those two notions hold is of growing importance in the Europe and Central Asia region and became a defining characteristic to reach the 2030 Agenda. The UN75 Declaration and its subsequent Common Agenda deployed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls on renewed efforts to improve digital cooperation and to protect the planet. Those two notions are brought together under the UN SG Roadmap for Digital Cooperation which addresses Digital Environmental Sustainability. The Global Digital Compact, proposed under the Common Agenda and informed by the Roadmap, will be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future in September 2024 which reviews the progress made on the UN75 Declaration.

In light of the above, this roundtable will share policy recommendations and actions to support an inclusive and green digital transformation. It will look at factors hindering internet connectivity access and use across communities and locations. It will discuss the importance of robust digital infrastructure as a prerequisite for the successful uptake of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) solutions serving climate action. Overall, the roundtable will review the achievement made on SDG 9 and 17 indicators related to internet connectivity access and use, ICT infrastructure, innovation, and the development, transfer, and dissemination of environmentally sound technologies. Recognizing the need for strengthened digital cooperation, this roundtable will emphasize a systemic approach to digital development. Collaboration between the ICT and the Environment sectors is even more so crucial to a successful environmentally-sound digital development.

Radics Kornelia, Ponder Jaroslaw, Lucio Filipe are presesenters.

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The average person has a misguided perception of climate change. We are oblivious to the reality of the dire condition our Earth is in. What is even more frightening is the inaction of individuals in

The average person has a misguided perception of climate change. We are oblivious to the reality of the dire condition our Earth is in. What is even more frightening is the inaction of individuals in power: governments and big corporations. “The need of the hour is not for people to know about the problem, it’s for them to understand the problem.” Mr. Abhiir Bhalla implores that awareness alone is no longer the requirement. We need to take action. He calls for the adoption of simple measures that we as global citizens must take to alleviate our impact on the Earth. Abhiir Bhalla is a dynamic individual. Tired of enduring the high air pollution levels in his hometown Delhi, he began his journey as a young environmentalist making waves around the world. He works as the Director of Operations and Community Engagement at Care for Air, a non-profit organization working on air pollution. He has been named ‘Friend of The Tiger’ by the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India. Recently, he also represented India as one of the five international youth environmentalists chosen from around the world to interact with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and Sir David Attenborough on BBC World News and BBC World Service. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Licypriya is a Nine-Years-Old Indian Climate Activists. She has been championing her cause since six-years-old to protect, preserve, and nurture our environment by fighting climate change. She is one

Licypriya is a Nine-Years-Old Indian Climate Activists. She has been championing her cause since six-years-old to protect, preserve, and nurture our environment by fighting climate change. She is one of the youngest climate activists globally and addressed the world leaders in the United Nations Climate Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain calling the world leaders to take immediate climate actions to save their future. She is an outspoken young leader inspiring millions of people around the world and one of the leading voices for climate change in the World. She is the World Children Peace Prize Laureate 2019, Rising Star of Earth Day 2019, and the recipients of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award 2019, Global Child Prodigy Award 2020, Noble Citizen Award 2020, and also amongst the “Top 100 Child Prodigies of the World 2020”. She was even praised by United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres in 2019. Licypriya is a Nine-Years-Old Indian Climate Activists. She has been championing her cause since six-years-old to protect, preserve, and nurture our environment by fighting climate change. She is one of the youngest climate activists globally and addressed the world leaders in the United Nations Climate Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain calling the world leaders to take immediate climate actions to save their future. She is an outspoken young leader inspiring millions of people around the world and one of the leading voices for climate change in the World. She is the World Children Peace Prize Laureate 2019, Rising Star of Earth Day 2019, and the recipients of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award 2019, Global Child Prodigy Award 2020, Noble Citizen Award 2020, and also amongst the “Top 100 Child Prodigies of the World 2020”. She was even praised by United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres in 2019. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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The Roundtable on SDG 9 and 17 “Partnerships for inclusive and sustainable digital development" of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region will take place on 29 March

The Roundtable on SDG 9 and 17 “Partnerships for inclusive and sustainable digital development" of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region will take place on 29 March 2023 from 15:00 to 18:00 CET. It will be held in a hybrid format, online and in WMO Premises in Geneva, Switzerland. The Roundtable is co-organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the contribution of UNEP, UNIDO and UN Women. The need to address green and digital transitions jointly and the link that those two notions hold is of growing importance in the Europe and Central Asia region and became a defining characteristic to reach the 2030 Agenda. The UN75 Declaration and its subsequent Common Agenda deployed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls on renewed efforts to improve digital cooperation and to protect the planet. Those two notions are brought together under the UN SG Roadmap for Digital Cooperation which addresses Digital Environmental Sustainability. The Global Digital Compact, proposed under the Common Agenda and informed by the Roadmap, will be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future in September 2024 which reviews the progress made on the UN75 Declaration. In light of the above, this roundtable will share policy recommendations and actions to support an inclusive and green digital transformation. It will look at factors hindering internet connectivity access and use across communities and locations. It will discuss the importance of robust digital infrastructure as a prerequisite for the successful uptake of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) solutions serving climate action. Overall, the roundtable will review the achievement made on SDG 9 and 17 indicators related to internet connectivity access and use, ICT infrastructure, innovation, and the development, transfer, and dissemination of environmentally sound technologies. Recognizing the need for strengthened digital cooperation, this roundtable will emphasize a systemic approach to digital development. Collaboration between the ICT and the Environment sectors is even more so crucial to a successful environmentally-sound digital development. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​ GUIDING QUESTIONS ​The roundtable discussion will be guided by the following questions: What are the key solutions to developing robust and reliable ICT infrastructure that can provide universal, affordable, and safe internet connectivity? What are effective policies and actions that governments can implement to limit the negative impact of the manufacturing and use of digital and ICT solutions and devices on the environment, such as e-waste generation, greenhouse gas emission, or loss of rare and raw earth materials? How can innovative ICT-based solutions and emerging technologies be leveraged to support governments in mitigating environmental risks and challenges? Which kind of partnerships are needed to achieve this objective and what are the effective mechanisms that can be leveraged? PROBLEM STATEMENT The UN75 Declaration and its subsequent Common Agenda deployed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls on renewed efforts to improve digital cooperation and to protect the planet. Those two notions are brought together under the UN SG Roadmap for Digital Cooperation which addresses Digital Environmental Sustainability. The Global Digital Compact, proposed under the Common Agenda and informed by the Roadmap, will be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future in September 2024 which reviews the progress made on the UN75 Declaration. In parallel, the link between green and digital transitions, and the necessity to address them jointly, is growing in importance for actors in the Europe and Central Asia region. In light of the above, this roundtable will share policy recommendations and actions to support an inclusive and green digital transformation. It will look at factors hindering internet connectivity access and use across communities and locations. It will discuss the importance of robust digital infrastructure as a prerequisite for the successful uptake of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) solutions serving climate action. Overall, the roundtable will review the achievement made on SDG 9 and 17 indicators related to internet connectivity access and use, ICT infrastructure, innovation, and the development, transfer, and dissemination of environmentally sound technologies. Recognizing the need for strengthened digital cooperation, this roundtable will emphasize a systemic approach to digital development. Collaboration between the ICT and the Environment sectors is even more so crucial to a successful environmentally-sound digital development. Digital solutions catalyze innovative economic development, help create jobs, advance quality education, boost comp…

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Humanity is at a pivotal juncture because of it reliance on fossil fuels amid escalating climate emergencies. In light of UN Secretary-General António Guterres's dire warnings and the backdrop of

Humanity is at a pivotal juncture because of it reliance on fossil fuels amid escalating climate emergencies. In light of UN Secretary-General António Guterres's dire warnings and the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts, this program, recorded at COP28, critically examines the challenges and controversies in the global transition to clean energy. The focus is on the frontline activists fighting fossil fuel projects, the needs of island nations and international leadership towards clean energy. Hosted by Raya Salter Music: At The Bazaar Underscore by David Fesliyan Edited by Michael Barba For more information on the state of our planet, visit the FacingFuture Library at https://facingfuture.earth/library.

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Video message from António Guterres, Secretary-General, UN, for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) focuses this

Video message from António Guterres, Secretary-General, UN, for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) focuses this year on “Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies.” Taking place on 17 May 2023, on the Day ITU calls on the public and private sectors to make pledges for universal connectivity and digital transformation in these countries through its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. For more information please visit: http://www.itu.int/wtisd

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Voices of Xingu - Antônia Melo da Silva Voices of the Xingu is a project that intends to tell the stories of the affected people by the Belo Monte Dam, being built in the heart of the Brazilian

Voices of Xingu - Antônia Melo da Silva Voices of the Xingu is a project that intends to tell the stories of the affected people by the Belo Monte Dam, being built in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. This is the story of Antônia, the heart and soul of the local Movement Xingu Alive Forever. If you want to learn more about her and about the Belo Monte Dam please go to: www.amazonwatch.org

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Message from António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, for the World Radiocommunication Conference. (Delivered by Maximillian Jacobson-Gonzalez, ITU) on 20 November, 2023 at WRC-23, Dubai,

Message from António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, for the World Radiocommunication Conference. (Delivered by Maximillian Jacobson-Gonzalez, ITU) on 20 November, 2023 at WRC-23, Dubai, UAE. UNITED NATIONS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE Dubai, 20 November 2023 I am pleased to greet the World Radiocommunication Conference. Your gathering is a testament to the power of international cooperation in tackling global challenges. Radio frequencies, whether on Earth or in space, form the backbone of advanced communications for all of humanity. From education to healthcare, from agriculture to climate monitoring, expanding radiocommunication services and bridging the digital divide are key to reducing inequalities and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The radio spectrum is also a finite resource. We must use it efficiently and equitably, with inclusive global coordination to prevent harmful interference. The World Radiocommunication Conference provides an opportunity to foster collaboration between governments, the private sector, regional telecom organizations, researchers and academia to promote fair and stable regulation, which is the foundation for investment and innovation that leaves no one behind. That is also the spirit of next year’s Summit of the Future – to advance the responsible and sustainable use of technologies, including satellites, and ensure that vital commons like outer space are preserved for future generations. Your contributions here can help transform how we communicate and connect in the years ahead. Let us share the radio spectrum wisely and help build a sustainable future for all. --------ENDS-------------------------- For further information please visit: http://www.itu.int #ituwrc #radiocommunication #unitednations #un #itu #telecommunications

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