Page 5 - Frontier technologies to protect the environment and tackle climate change - Executive Summary

Frontier technologies to protect the environment and tackle clim
Frontier technologies to protect the environment and tackle climate changeate change

Executive Summary

Catastrophic global climate change is not an event waiting to happen, it is the reality facing
the world right now, today, and urgent action is needed to tackle it. Cutting-edge frontier
technologies such as AI, clean energy, digital twin or robotics can help mitigate and combat
these challenges, according to a recent UN report.

Across the planet, rising temperatures
caused by global warning are giving
rise to more frequent and severe
weather-related phenomena such
as heat waves, droughts, floods,
rising sea levels, wildfires, hurricanes,
tropical cyclones and heavy rain
and snowfalls. Already vulnerable
and poor population groups are
likely to be those most affected.
Growing urbanization is also set
to exacerbate the ramifications of
climate change, given that some 70
per cent of energy-related CO2 emissions are traceable back to cities. With high population
concentrations, cities are also more at risk from the direct and indirect impacts of climate
change, and bear most of their related costs such as dealing with negative health outcomes
and population displacements.

Frontier technologies to protect the environment and tackle climate change, the latest report
– developed by ITU together with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE);
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); UN Environment;
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); United Nations Global
Compact; United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United Nations
Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat); and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality
and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) – begins by exploring what is changing on
our planet, why these changes are taking place, and who is most at risk as a result. It shows that
catastrophic global climate change is already clearly underway and that urgent action is needed
to help monitor, mitigate and adapt to its effects. Frontier technologies – new, innovative and
disruptive technologies – offer tremendous potential for tackling climate change and meeting
the goals of United Nations sustainable development goal (SDG) 13 (Climate Action).

The report spotlights eight key emerging technologies, each with the potential to be instrumental
in tackling climate change: artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, clean energy
technology, digital twin, robotics, Space 2.0 technologies, as well as digitalization and Big
Data.

It also takes us inside the United Nations system, with perspectives from ITU, UNECE, UNESCO,
UN Environment, UNFCCC, UN Global Compact, UN Habitat, UNIDO and UN Women. It
provides real-life case studies to explore how these innovative technologies are being used
in areas as diverse and critical as smart cities, earth monitoring, natural disaster risk reduction,
e-waste, and water and electricity management.

1