Importance of the Internet in Sustainable Development
Introduction
The Internet has become an undeniable part of our lives. It plays a crucial role in various fields such as economics, education, and connecting with our peers. It is hard to imagine a life without the Internet, but we have to realize that it will be harder to survive without sustainable development. Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Incorporating a powerful resource like the Internet can escalate our shot at achieving sustainable development. There is an emerging interest and an urgent need in understanding the potential of sustainable development. With nearly 53% of the global population as its users, the Internet provides us with numerous advantages — technology, communication, new ideas, et cetera. Using the internet in sustainable development can aid us to achieve our goals.
Steps taken towards Sustainable Development
Since 1992, the Internet Society (ISOC) worked to promote information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the area of sustainable development. The UN has adopted the Post-2015 Development Agenda based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The potential of the Internet, in sustainable development, was emphasized at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS, 2003/2005), and the outcomes were demonstrated in 2015 when the UN reviewed the WSIS. In the 1992 Earth Summit, sustainable development was the primary focus.
Recently on 15 July 2021, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) discussed the plans to be implemented by 2030, which includes 17 goals for sustainable development.
The 17 goals of Sustainable Development
The theme of the 15th July 2021 meeting of the HLPF, is “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.
The HLPF discussed the 17 goals for sustainable development. They are:
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced Inequality
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Goal 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal
The forum believes that these 17 goals will help in creating a significant impact on sustainable development.
Impact of the Internet on SDGs
The Internet has its tentacles in almost every field in the modern era. It has contributed to the growth of education, health, and finance. ICTs monitor and measure progress towards sustainable development. It helps in delivering information to the masses about the SDGs. The Internet helps us acquire data on the implementation and the progress made in the field of sustainable development. This information will help in strategizing our plans better and in achieving the SDGs. Data provided by the Internet has the potential to improve understanding of development environments, facilitate evidence-based policy-making, and monitor development outcomes.
To achieve sustainability, there is a need to make citizens aware of greenhouse gases, renewable energies, recycling, and global warming. The Internet makes this task easy. It helps a large population gather reliable information faster and easier. This aids in keeping people up-to-date and raising awareness about sustainable development.
The Internet helps to develop a country’s economy sustainably. With advancements such as digital marketing and online commerce, there is an increase in emerging businesses. New products are released almost daily through the internet. The Internet has evidently made business easy. It has also helped consumers get cheaper products from more reliable buyers and provided them with multiple options.
Indirect contribution of the Internet to sustainable development
The internet facilitates NGOs and charitable organizations to reach more people. This has aided in connecting the needy to the willing, thus providing better living conditions for many.
The internet also assists governments to connect with each other and with their people. Governments enabled by the internet can come together during a crisis to provide relief measures. The internet acts as a powerful tool in the hands of the government that can be used to spread awareness regarding concerning environmental issues such as climate change and global warming.
The internet helps farmers learn new and advanced farming practices that contribute to better yield and improved quality of the crops. It leads to increased income and an improved livelihood.
Digitalization is another key aspect of the internet and networking. A study suggests that information and communications technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from other sectors of the economy, below business-as-usual growth, by 15%.
Conclusion
The Internet is a powerful asset that can help us achieve sustainable development. Incorporating the internet into SDGs can help in realizing the SDGs faster. The Internet has no boundaries and no biases. It connects people, and therefore, empowers them. The Internet spreads awareness and information more efficiently. Data on sustainable development in different parts of the world can be collected, to spark new ideas and implement sustainability elsewhere. With proper use of the Internet, we can form more strategies to achieve sustainable development. A better understanding of the role of the Internet when done correctly, will act as an indispensable catalyst in handling various barriers to sustainable development.
