Why is international collaboration crucial to a sustainable future

World leaders and organizations from around the globe will be converging at the Summit of the Future in New York this week (22-23 September 2024). The Summit will raise discussions around several key topics ranging from international peace and security, digital cooperation and sustainable development.

In the lead up to the Summit, IEC, which will also be joining discussions during the New York Climate Action week, held a webinar on 16 September onBuilding partnerships for a sustainable future: a focus on the UN Summit for the Future.

The webinar, featured experts from IRENA, UNIDO, AFSEC, ISO and IEC weighing in on the essential role of international collaboration and partnerships in implementing electrotechnology solutions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ensuing discussions emphasized the importance of cross-sector partnerships and how they help drive progress towards a sustainable and equitable world.

IEC Vice-President Vimal Mahendru elaborated on the organization's focus on advancing sustainability through joint efforts, "At IEC, our new strategy that is already being implemented over the last two years includes our 'second pillar', which is sustainability and sustainable technologies, and the 'third pillar' of our strategy is about trust and building partnerships across the world. There is a clear recognition that no one entity alone can do it. But together we can all do it"

Katharine Fraga, Director of Membership, Affiliates and Capacity Building at the IEC highlighted a successful example of collaboration between IEC, ISO and ITU, "For decades IEC has been working very closely with both ISO and ITU under the banner of the World Standards Cooperation (WSC). Thanks to the close collaboration of the three organizations, we've fundamentally changed the digital landscape. Together, we've worked on topical issues such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, smart farming, circular economy, e-waste, cyber security, and many, many more."

She also highlighted the recent ambitious project WSC undertook to harness standardization for combating the use of AI in developing and propagating deepfake and misinformation.

Another key project discussed was the IEC Global Impact Fund for advancing direct impact on ground. The Fund's inaugural project aims to address critical human needs, including good health (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).

Building on this discourse, Dorina Nati, Industrial Development Officer at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) raised the point around equitable and inclusive development.

Speaking of the need for global cooperation, she also emphasised on knowledge-sharing within countries, "But are we prepared to interconnect and share data and information? And are we prepared to leave no one behind in this process that is so complex also from a perspective of developed countries?"

In this context, she stressed the need for partnerships, especially for developing countries, to ensure that everybody is invited to be at the table, and that everybody has the capacity to actively contribute to this discussion.

By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the webinar aimed to inspire collective action and showcase the transformative potential of partnerships in building a sustainable and resilient future.

You can learn more about the insights shared by the other speakers and IEC's work in the webinar recording.

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