​Contact: Cristina Bueti ​

Introduction
Frontier technologies are new, cutting-edge and innovative technologies that offer vast potential to help identify, mitigate and (where possible) reverse the effects of climate change. Leveraging these technologies to engineer new solutions to address climate change represents a significant opportunity to accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) together with Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) organized the Side Event: "Harnessing Frontier Technologies for Accelerating Climate Actions and the SDGs", which took place during the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from 9-18 July 2019 in UNHQ, New York.  

The Side Event was held from 6.30-8.00pm on 9 July 2019.

The IPCC has issued its starkest warning yet on the consequences of climate inaction and the importance of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, clean energy technology, digital twins, big data Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data analytics and other frontier technologies offers significant potential in engineering innovative climate solutions in the areas of climate adaptation, mitigation and finance. At the same time, the disruptive potential of these technologies demands careful planning in their applications.

The 2019 HLPF, the global forum for reviewing successes, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focused on the theme, "Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality".

Additional information on the 2019 HLPF can be found here.

Objectives
This Side Event provided an overview of the new ITU Focus Group on Environmental Efficiency for Artificial Intelligence and other Emerging Technologies (FG-AI4EE) and discussed the way in which frontier technologies are helping to address climate change, drive sustainability and environmental resilience, as well as empower people worldwide. This side event also tackled the challenges these emerging technologies presents.

Target Audience
This Side Event was open to all. Participation was free of charge.

Location
UN Headquarters, Conference Room A

Programme

6.30 - 6.40pm​

​Opening remarks​ ​Mr Malcolm Johnson, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) HE Mr Christian Guillermet-Fernández, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, New York

6.40 - 8.00​pm

Session on Harnessing Frontier Technologies for Accelerating Climate Actions and the SDGs   Moderator: Mr Malcolm Johnson, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) [Biography​] Speakers: Mr Abel Leites, Director of Global Supply Chain, Verizon [Biography] Ms Joan Krajewski, General Manager, E+D Safety, Compliance & Sustainability, Microsoft: Technology for systemic change toward a net zero carbon economy: Facts, trends and insights​ [Biography]​ Ms Claudia Linke-Heep, Deputy Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): Decarbonizing industries: do digital technologies have the answer? [Biography]​ Mr John Furlow, Deputy Director, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University: Sharing Technology to Support Development [Biography] Questions & Answers