Uniting to Deliver Technology for the Global Goals

2030Vision is a new partnership that connects businesses, NGOs and Governments with the technology and expertise they need to realize the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

SustainAbility is a founding member of 2030Vision alongside Arm, UN Global Compact, UNICEF, The New York Academy of Sciences, Fauna and Flora International, Centre for Global Equality, Cambridge Judge Business School, British Council, Be He@lthy Be Mobile and Project Everyone.

Quotation mark 2030Vision’s ambition is to transform the use of technology so that all people can live their lives to their full potential by 2030. Quotation mark

2030Vision’s ambition is to transform the use of technology so that all people can live their lives to their full potential by 2030.

SustainAbility authored the 2030Vision Report, which summarizes key opportunities and challenges for digital technology and the Global Goals. With input from technology experts and end users, the report describes the scale of the transformation needed, and the aligned social, environmental and commercial opportunities.

Digital solutions with positive impact on the SDGs could, according to The Business and Sustainable Development Commission, unlock $2.1tn additional annual revenue for the technology sector in 2030. The potential value and impact of digital innovation can only be realised with unprecedented levels of collaboration – which 2030Vision will enable.

From the Internet of Things (IoT) to blockchain, from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to intelligent systems, technology will have profound implications for business and society. Our research for the 2030Vision’s first report highlighted food and agriculture, transport, infrastructure, and logistics and heath as the most promising opportunities for digital technology where commercial interests and global societal needs were aligned.

Food & agriculture

Precision agriculture including the use of drones, robotics, smart equipment, and farm management software can deliver higher agricultural yields with fewer inputs. Technologies that utilise radio-frequency identification (RFID) and big data can improve tracking of shelf-life and quality, helping to minimise food waste. Satellite and ground-based sensors in oceans, rivers and farms can help better predict famines and help farmers with decision-making.

Transport, infrastructure and logistics

Intelligent transport, shipping, and distribution systems including autonomous vehicles and vessels, car sharing, and drones can lower emissions and costs while improving efficiency and safety. IoT and blockchain can enable the traceability and monitoring of complex, global supply chains to expose risks of human rights abuses or unsustainable resource management.

Health

Electronic health records can bring better coordination in healthcare delivery and give patients control over their digital health identities. Sensors can enable collection and utilization of vast amounts of health data which can be analysed using AI to predict health conditions and enable targeted treatment and care. Transparency-enabling technologies can reduce medical fraud and litigation, as well as unethical pricing of drugs and insurance.

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations commented on the initiative, “The world needs strong multi-stakeholder partnerships like 2030Vision that focus on the technological innovations required to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development… I welcome 2030Vision for its leadership and ambition towards attaining our shared goals for people and planet by 2030.”

Find out more and join the partnership at 2030Vision.com.