Page 33 - UN Executive Briefing on Unlocking the potential of virtual worlds and the metaverse for the Sustainable Development Goals

UN Executive Briefing on Unlocking the potential of virtual worlds and
the metaverse for the Sustainable Development Goals

the world and accelerate the digital transformation required to achieve the SDGs. However, the
metaverse also poses many policy and technical challenges that could undermine its potential.
Read the briefing to learn more.

Related SDG:

• SDG9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG17 Partnerships for the goals
Relevant link:

• https:// www .itu .int/ en/ publications/ Documents/ tsb/ 2023 -Executive -briefing -on -the
-metaverse/ index .html #p = 1

Contacts: Cristina Bueti (virtualworlds@ itu .int) and Salma Arafa (UN Tourism)

Project 3: UN metaverse Think-a-Thon 2024: Virtual Worlds Revolutionizing Smart Sustainable
Cities & Communities

The metaverse Think-a-Thon 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) in collaboration with the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
aimed to harness the innovative potential of virtual worlds for sustainable urban development.
This initiative engaged students and academics globally to collaboratively address critical
challenges through immersive virtual simulations.

Participants were tasked with designing solutions that transform how we envision and interact
with our cities and communities, emphasising sustainability and technology integration. ITU
and its partners provided resources, training, and expert guidance to support the creation of
impactful solutions. The most innovative proposals were recognized with awards, showcasing
the potential of the metaverse to drive positive change and reflecting ITU's commitment to
leveraging advanced technologies for sustainable development.

Related SDG:
• SDG 4 Quality Education
• SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13 Climate Action
• SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG17 Partnerships for the goals

Relevant links:
• https:// www .itu .int/ metaverse/ un -virtual -worlds -day/ thinkathon/
• https:// www .itu .int/ hub/ 2024/ 03/ new -ideation -competition -on -metaverse -worlds/

Contacts: Cristina Bueti (virtualworlds@ itu .int), Franca Vinci (UNICC), Nevena Alexandrova
(FAO), Natali Rangel Salas (IAEA)

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