What's interesting this week...
Develop Impact - Issue 145
Happy new week!
We’ve almost made it through January! I hope the start of 2023 has been good for you.
Today, I am sharing with you another five articles that I found informative and thought-provoking. I hope that you find value in this newsletter for your current or future projects.
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…
A few pieces of good news on climate change (and a reality check)
A close look at energy and emissions data around the world shows that there are a few bright spots of good news and a lot of potential progress ahead. Global emissions from fossil-fuel sources were higher than ever in 2022, according to data from the Global Carbon Project. But many countries have already seen their own emissions plateau or begin to decrease, including the US, Russia, Japan, and the European Union.
The reality check, climate progress needs to happen even faster. The Paris Agreement set a target to keep warming under 2 °C over preindustrial levels, but the world has nearly spent its carbon budget. To keep warming under 1.5 °C, the world's emissions need to reach net zero by 2050. Keeping warming under 1.5 °C is possible, though the goal is slipping out of reach. Significant cuts in emissions are needed to keep warming under control.
Space Economy: an opportunity for E.U.-ASEAN collaboration?
Space-related research should be on the agenda of the next E.U.-ASEAN commemorative summit to increase human connectivity, knowledge transfer, business collaborations, and increased mutual understanding.
Some ASEAN countries are already making forays into space, either independently or in partnerships with states beyond the bloc. ASEAN states have forged bilateral partnerships to increase their reach into space, including with Vietnam, India, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, and the U.S. Malaysia has also produced a satellite, working in collaboration with the UK.
ASEAN and EU members are not unfamiliar with significant collaborations, but a macro space bloc following the example of ESA could enhance collaboration.
How to prioritize digital transformation even in a downturn
The current macroeconomic climate may have some companies rethinking their expenditures on digital technologies, but digital transformation is an important enabler for sustainable growth.
To ensure availability and access to the technologies and solutions necessary for digital transformation, governments and the public sector must work in unison. This includes strategic economic investments in connectivity infrastructure and services, as well as tax incentives that encourage businesses to make investments in innovative technologies. Business and government should pool their intelligence, resources, and capabilities to ensure the adequate availability of wireless spectrum for a hyper-connected world.
Transboundary Water Governance is a Regional Security Issue in Asia
The Tibetan Plateau and the Hindu Kush-Himalayan regions are the sources of 10 major Asian rivers, including the Yellow, Yangtze, Indus, Mekong, Salween, Ganges, Yarlung Zangbo, Amu Darya, Syr Darya, and Tarim.
Recent studies demonstrate that climate change is significantly affecting the region, disrupting the water cycle, and causing significant long-term hydrological, socio-economic, humanitarian, and security challenges. In addition to this, a recently published study found a significant imbalance in the “Asian water tower,” caused by changes in the westerlies (prevailing winds) and Indian monsoons, accelerating the transformation of ice and snow into liquid water.
Why Innovation Depends on Intellectual Honesty
Innovation flourishes when people on a team openly debate and disagree. However, psychological safety isn't the only important factor for ensuring healthy debate, intellectual honesty is also important for creating breakthrough innovations. Many teams prioritize psychological safety without realizing that the social cohesion it promotes can sometimes undermine intellectual honesty.