A new initiative proposed at the Stockholm+50 international meeting, which ran from 3 to 5 June, aims to help developing countries tackle environmental challenges through facilitated access to and support for digital and technological solutions.
The concept for the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) “Data Driven Environmental Solutions Hub” was outlined as part of the Multi-stakeholder Action Hub.
With the aim of being integrated with UNEP’s World Environment Situation Room, the initiative has the potential to be a lasting legacy of UNEP@50 and Stockholm+50.
The Solutions Hub would provide evidence-based data and analytics to aid decision making. It would also facilitate access to both digital technologies for sustainability and new and successful technologies. These tools, combined with capacity support, aim to help developing countries more easily achieve their goals.
Envisioned as both a virtual knowledge hub and a Nairobi-based physical capacity-building centre, the Solutions Hub would engage a broad range of partners to deliver solutions. Moreover, it would adopt a cross-sectorial approach that brings together the humanitarian, peace, security and development agendas.
It would work to scale-up innovation and technology solutions by making innovation success stories available and linking data on successful implementation and new technologies and technology scanning. The Hub would also focus on transitions in high impact sectors such as food, energy, manufacturing, mining, buildings, and waste.
The Hub was discussed at Stockholm+50 with high-level panellists, including UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and Sweden’s Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll.
Minister Strandhäll underscored that a focus on new technologies and capacity development in this way is urgently needed.
Andrea Hinwood, UNEP’s Chief Scientist, further highlighted the urgent need for open and accessible data, information, knowledge technology and capacity to support developing country efforts to combat the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
The evolution of the Hub is a direct response to the Doha Programme of Action for 2022-2030, which notes the need to “leverage the power of science, technology and innovation” to help bring about structural transformation and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal .
It is also fully aligned with the UN Secretary General’s report “ Our Common Agenda ,” the UN Data Strategy , Strategy on New Technologies and the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation.
Further resources:
World Environment Situation Room
Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation
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