To demonstrate how academic institutions and NGOs are using smart technologies and quantitative indicators to enact climate solutions, recognized subject-matter experts and leaders will explain how innovation (e.g., blockchain, remote sensing, and smart city technology) is empowering diverse groups of stakeholder to achieve their climate goals based on their individual and unique requirements, available resources and infrastructure.

The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window — Climate crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies provides an updated assessment of the gap between where we are heading in terms of global GHG emissions and where we need to be in 2030 to get on track towards the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. This year’s report emphasizes the urgency of transformation, with a specific focus on key sectors, food systems and financial systems. 

Digital technologies and services can accelerate socio-ecological transformation. Digitalisation can help make the optimisation of modern energy systems more efficient. However, as seen in particular with internet traffic, some challenges remain dominant: high energy demand, unsustainable consumption patterns and energy imbalances. For example, the energy consumption of the global ICT sector is expected to double by 2030. To counteract such trends, digitalisation needs to be aligned with sustainability goals at the European and international level. 

The event aims to serve as a platform for discussing the creative and entrepreneurial potential of youth to deliver concrete climate technology solutions.

3 climate technology startups from the CTCN Climate Innovation Academy 2022 in the MENA region will share their solutions, and YOUNGO colleagues can prompt an interactive discussion with the audience on what support young people need in order to better mobilise technology innovation for climate action. The event will be broadcast online.

The Global Innovation Hub, launched in November 2021, aims to promote transformative innovations for a low-emission and climate-resilient future. The Hub expands the global innovation space by facilitating solutions that support the climate-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that address core human needs for food, shelter, mobility, and access via alternative value chains aligned with those SDGs.