The third edition of the summit Digital With Purpose (DWP) starts next Tuesday, July 9th for three days of debates, workshops and promotion of partnerships, with the aim of looking for solutions capable of addressing some of the biggest challenges the world faces, with the help of technology. Based on the areas of biodiversity, smart and sustainable cities and educationthe program counts on the participation of national and international experts, from the public and private sectors, but also from academia and politics.
This year, the summit will also bring to the fore the topic of sustainable finance, increasingly present in the day-to-day lives of organizations, and the unavoidable artificial intelligence (AI) which, Luís Neves believes, will contribute ¡ to accelerate the development and implementation of technological solutions that can contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), defined by the United Nations, by 2030.
Aliás, or CEO from GeSI (Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative) recalls that 45% of the SDGs can be directly impacted by digital, which means that “we need to accelerate and work together to ensure that the planet remains on the path to sustainability, which is It’s very complicated when we see more and more negative impacts.
Water management is a critical topic
In a global context where around half of the population has little or no access to water, achieving the 6th SDG, which advocates the urgency of guaranteeing drinking water and sanitation for the entire population the world championship, is a critical objective and one that, in the words of Luís Neves, “has a lot to benefit from the use of technological solutions†. An opinion shared by Nizar Kammourie remembers that only 5% of water is used for human consumption, which means that with the right tools and the will of governments and companies, “it is a challenge that can be solved†.
“We need to accelerate and work together to ensure that the planet remains on the path to sustainability, which is very complicated when we see more and more negative impacts.†The CEO of SAWACO, a company specialized in water desalination, which is also part of the board from GeSI, will be present at the DWP with the mission of promote the digitalization of the water sector and encourage technological companies to dedicate more of their innovation and research to the sector which, he points out, “is the most fragmented in the world†. From Nizar’s perspective Kammourie is essential “bring some discipline, some structure, and some standards to this sector. I believe that the result will be better with digital tools and solutions†.
Contrary to what you might think, the problem of water scarcity is truly global. Nizar Kammourie remembers that there are rich countries without water – as is the case of Saudi Arabia and others in the Middle East region -, European countries with investment capacity, but losing their water reserves water due to climate change, or countries with low financial resources that have a lot of water, but do not manage it properly. In the United States alone, he explains, “there are more than 5,000 municipalities with water stress as serious as in the sub-Saharan African region†.
For each of these challenges there are different solutions, as the CEO of SAWACO explains. Desalination is what Nizar Kammourie calls it “the final resource†, since before this solution there are other equally effective solutions such as wastewater treatment, filtration or recycling – for irrigation, use in industry and, even for human consumption. All things considered, these responses could cost something like €0.30 per cubic meter, while desalination will have costs in the order of €0.90 per cubic meter.
(only) of global water resources are used for human consumption
Through GeSI, the SAWACO manager will help promote the Water Digitalization Initiative (Water Digitization Initiative) with the European Commission, the United Nations and a series of forums around the world, with a view to developing joint actions to reduce water scarcity water in the world. “I am very optimistic that we will be able to make a difference,†he says.
Decarbonize and include
Transforming cities, making them more efficient and sustainable through digitalization “contributes to decarbonization, but also makes them more inclusive†, he guarantees Giorgia Rambelli. In the opinion of the director of the Urban Transitions Mission – a project launched at COP26, in 2021 with the aim of empowering and preparing cities around the world for decarbonization through networking – âtechnology is just a tool to make cities smarter, but it is also a tool to make them more sustainable,” he highlights.
Giorgia Rambelli emphasizes, however, that technology raises a set of other questions that need to be looked at carefully. Security (and cybersecurity), access to quality data and standards technologies that facilitate interoperability between different systems – public and private – are some of the challenges that need to be overcome. Here, he points out, “regulation is very important†. The person responsible explains that standards, governance and monitoring and strengthen the partnership between the public, private sector and communities.
Currently, there is no shortage of good examples of city transformation – Amman, Singapore, Manchester or Cascais, as exemplified by Giorgia Rambelli -, who can share their experience with others who are beginning this path, with a view to scaling solutions that, in the long term, may become accessible even to countries with lower incomes.
What is it?
It is an event that will bring together global and national leaders, companies and organizations to discuss the adoption of sustainable digital solutions that allow meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (OSD) for 2030.
When, where and at what time?
The event will take place between the 9th and 11th of July at the Estoril Congress Center, from 2pm on the 9th, and from 10am on the 10th and 11th.
Who are the speakers?
More than fifty speakers have been confirmed, coming from dozens of countries and representatives of governments, public institutions, companies, start-ups or universities. To know them see here.
Why is this theme central?
The impact of digital tools on various sectors of society can make a difference and contribute to the acceleration and fulfillment of the 17 OSD. However, this is work that has to be done jointly between the public, private and social sectors so that its effect is faster. This is the third summit, promoted by GeSi (Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative), a global organization that promotes the impact of the technology sector on sustainability and seeks to unite the different stakeholders to boost this partnership work.
How can I see?
If you want to attend, in person or online, sign up here.
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