The world is facing pressing social and economic challenges of unprecedented nature. In particular, climate crisis is a global challenge that calls for global solutions. As of 2023, carbon emissions are at a record high, reflecting historical growth patterns sourced by fossil fuels and lack of political will to transition towards renewable energies. Governments are facing complex trade-offs between promoting inclusive economic growth and mitigating climate change.
Green technologies offer transformative solutions to achieve this dual goal. Green technologies are usually associated with renewable energy technologies but also include the strategic use of traditional and new digital technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. They enable cleaner and more efficient production, thus creating a synergy between economic development and climate change mitigation.
Green transformation, supported by frontier technologies, offers a viable route for countries in Asia and the Pacific to claim agency in their own development narrative and move from crisis to sustainable development. To benefit from the green technology revolution, strong government efforts are needed to take strategic, long-term action to build innovation and technological capacities to spur sustainable economic growth and increase their resilience to future crises.
Objective
This webinar co-organized by UNCTAD and ESCAP presented UNCTAD's Technology and Innovation Report 2023 and ESCAP’s Report on enabling the green transition of business. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion by experts and policymakers from Asia and the Pacific region. The discussion was centered around ways of moving forward with policy options for countries in the region to strategically position themselves to take advantage of green windows of opportunity. The event served as a platform for peer learning and raised awareness of policy options to harness the frontier technologies to achieve the dual goal of economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Programme
Opening remarks
- Ms. Shamika N. Sirimanne, Director of the Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD
- Ms. Rupa Chanda, Director of Trade, Investment and Innovation, ESCAP
Presentations
- Technology and Innovation Report 2023 – Mr. Clovis Freire Junior, Team Leader of the Technology and Innovation Report 2023, UNCTAD
- Enabling the green transition of business – Ms. Elena Mayer-Besting, Programme Management Officer and Report Leader, ESCAP
Panel discussion
Moderator: Mr. Angel Gonzalez Sanz, Head of Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD
Panelists
- Mr. Rasmus Lema, Associate Professor, UNU-MERIT
- Md. Abdul Bari, Innovation Specialist, Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation EcoSystem Development Project, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority
- Mr. Archawat Chareonsilp, Executive Chairman, ETRAN (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
- Ms. Heather L. Taylor-Strauss, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP
