Proposal to be considered for the ICANN78 program:
Session Title: The Impact of Internet Infrastructures in Achieving SDGs
Target Groups: This is a cross-community session
Justification:
The internet-based technologies and activities have become part and parcel of our daily lives and the core of our critical systems. As such, internet technology is a fundamental element of development and a key component of achieving SDGs. WSIS has mapped its action lines with direct linkages to the proposed SDGs. To demonstrate the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on SDGs, WISIS has mapped its action lines to proposed SDGs. The goal is to create an explicit connection between harnessing the potential of ICTs to promote and realize the development goals. However, the internet is also responsible for huge energy and resource usage with a large carbon footprint and other negative environmental impacts. According to the International Energy Agency “data centers and data transmission networks account for a whopping 2% of global electricity demand [iea.org]”. While energy-efficient data centers are appearing, “by 2040, the storage of digital data is expected to produce 14% of the world's total emissions, which is roughly what is emitted by the entire U.S. now [weforum.org].” It is critical to explore this evolving landscape.
Documents and References:
- The Internet and Sustainable Development - ISOC [internetsociety.org]
- WSIS SDGs Matrix - https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/sdg/
- Sustainable Development Goal 9: Investing in ICT access and quality education to promote lasting peace [un.org]
- Goals of sustainable infrastructure, industry, and innovation: a review and future agenda for research[link.springer.com]
- Preserving an open Internet to achieve the SDGs: The Internet as an enabler for achieving SDGs 4 and 5[hlpf.un.org]
- 2022 - Mobile Industry Impact Report [online.fliphtml5.com]
- Can Bitcoin go green? [theguardian.com]
- Internet and Climate Change [online.fliphtml5.com]
- The Environmental Footprint of Data Centers in the US [iopscience.iop.org]
Duration: 90 minutes
Agenda:
Introduction and Welcome – 10 minutes
Subject introduction: Pari Esfandiari (ALAC/EURALO) - 10 Minutes
Speaker (ISOC - ICTs, the Internet and SDGs - 10 minutes
Speaker (WSIS) - Mapping SDGs and ICTs - 10 minutes
Speaker (TBD) – ICT Carbon footprint - 10 minutes
Open floor for Q/A - 30 Minutes
Closing remarks – 5 minutes
Closing session – 5 minutes
