What's interesting this week...
Develop Impact - Issue 137
Hello friends!
Happy new year! I hope you had a great end to 2022 and have an even more fruitful, prosperous and successful 2023!
Today, I am back sharing with you another five articles that I found informative and thought-provoking. I believe these resources could be useful for your current or future projects.
Technology is expanding rapidly, so it's important that we remember the concept of "tech for good" - using technology to make lives better for individuals and communities. We can make a real difference by creating solutions to pressing problems, empowering marginalized groups, or promoting sustainability.
This community is all about learning, sharing, and growing together. If you have any interesting resources or thoughts to share, please let us know. Let's continue to use technology for the greater good.
Happy reading!
Jesse
What’s interesting…
The energy mindset shifts of 2022
This year has been a big year for the clean energy transition, with several topics catalyzing new, more nuanced discussions about the clean transition. We've been living through a wild-west era of corporate climate claims, but despite the run on climate commitments, emissions rose by 6 percent in 2021.
The energy crisis makes saving energy more appealing, and 71 percent of consumers are more interested in reducing consumption compared to one year ago.
As the clean energy transition matures, organizations are working to ensure incentives are aligned with the outcomes we want to achieve. Meta is exploring a new financial structure to encourage decarbonization, and Emissions First is embracing a new accounting framework.
Technology can hasten the green transition
Authors Glacer Nio Vasquez and Rhea Crisologo Hernando said digital technologies can be harnessed to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, such as by harnessing renewable energy and improving power grids to better manage large volumes of variable renewable energy.
Vasquez and Hernando said APEC economies have performed well in the digital skills institutions pillar, but need to improve in the digital responsiveness pillar to accelerate the shift toward low carbon.
Vasquez and Hernando said the level of readiness of APEC economies to adapt to climate change and their vulnerability to extreme weather events are important factors.
2022 Asia Roundtable Summit on Green Low-carbon Development Is Successfully Held
The 2022 Asia Roundtable Summit on Green Low-carbon Development was successfully held online on December 20, 2022. Nine guests, including the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to China, discussed innovative achievements and experiences in green and low-carbon development in Asia.
The summit aims to give full play to the efforts of governments, enterprises, research institutions, and relevant parties in Asian countries to promote green growth, carbon emission reduction goals, smart energy development, and green technology cooperation.
Nearly 30 representatives from Asia signed the Building a Green and Low-carbon Planet: Asia Green and Low-carbon Development Initiative, calling on Asian countries to transform their economic and social development modes into green and low-carbon ones.
Enabling inclusion with assistive technology, community efforts
Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, was speaking at the Tech 4 Good showcase, which featured 30 teams responding to six challenges based on the lived experiences faced by people with disabilities. The event came hot on the heels of the announcement of the country's Enabling Masterplan 2030.
As part of the EMP 2030, the Singaporean government has made assistive technology one of the 14 focal areas. The teams at Tech 4 Good developed solutions ranging from independent wheelchair transfers to tools to support people with visual impairment measure specific volumes of liquids.
Chua highlighted to teams that agencies Tote Board and SG Enable provide funding for assistive technology and other scalable initiatives through the Enabling Lives Initiative grant, and that MSF's Assistive Technology Fund supports persons with disabilities in acquiring, replacing, or repairing their devices.
Enterprises in Asia/Pacific need to slice through storms of disruption brought about by talent gaps, cybersecurity intensity, supply chain dynamics, COVID restrictions, inflation and the risk of recession to achieve their business objectives to reduce costs, increase profits, improve operational efficiency, grow revenue and improve customer experience.
Each year, IDC releases its top predictions for the rapidly changing IT industry through its IDC FutureScape reports. These predictions have been used to shape the strategies and business objectives of technology leaders and business executives.
IDC predicts that organizations will spend 3.5 times the economy on digital technology in 2023, and will instead focus on high-impact digital business projects.
By 2026, 40% of revenue from Asia/Pacific 2000 organizations will be generated by digital products, services, and experiences. Digital-first CIOs must create financial, ecosystem, and ESG impact.