Jeffrey Sachs Launches Lisbon Challenge at the Digital with Purpose Global Summit

Jeffrey Sachs, Professor of Economics at Columbia University, author and global leader in sustainable development, launched a challenge at the end of the Digital with Purpose (DWP) Global Summit that brought together decision-makers in Lisbon: "Put Digital with Purpose to work with a high-level UN group and study state financing, as a complement and stimulus to private investment in sustainability.” The DwP will return to Lisbon in September of next year to evaluate the solutions adopted.

In one of the most attended panels of the Digital with Purpose Summit, comprised of a panel of CEOs working towards digital transformation of their companies, Jeffrey Sachs, economics professor, author and global leader in sustainable development, stressed that, "we are in a very difficult situation, so we really need to cooperate". Sachs continued, "we are in a set of serious global crises: pandemic, war, US/China conflict, and climate change, among others. We need to refocus on a common agenda, but first we need to end this war, which now threatens to be nuclear… We need to open our eyes and reconsider everything we've been doing."

Sachs noted, "we are at a very difficult juncture. We really need to cooperate, because we are in a set of serious global crises: pandemic, war, US/China conflict, and climate change, among others. We need to refocus on a common agenda, but first we need to end this war, which is now threatening to go nuclear.” Moreover, he argued that "we have to open our eyes and reconsider everything we've been doing.”

Digital is the key in these processes, he continued. "The power of digital services to positively connect society, fight poverty, access information and knowledge... all of this is revolutionary and is happening with business leadership. But we are only reaching half the world and the gap is widening dramatically. We need partnerships, policies, and determination to reach that goal with a high sense of urgency," Jeffrey Sachs concluded.

The summit's debate covered the potential for digital solutions in themes such as sustainable finance, education, health and food systems, and cities.

The event was opened by the President of the Republic. According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, "the digital transformation of societies only matters if it improves our lives. We have to put it at the service of the challenges of our time. How to do it in a sustainable and economically viable way is only possible on a global and multilateral scale, accepting that everyone's collaboration is essential for what we want."

The Vice President of the Government of Spain and Spanish Minister of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, also spoke in the opening session. Ribera discussed the interconnectedness of sustainability and digital innovation: "the adoption of digital technologies as a way to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals requires defining more effective measures, with a development process that will require the collaboration of all. But for that to happen, we have to be prepared and prepare the right responses."

Portuguese Secretary of State for Digitalization and Administrative Modernization, Mário Campolargo, pointed out that the Portuguese Government considers it "of the utmost importance to be continuously questioning and rethinking digital and the way we use technologies. We have to address the most varied issues of society and the economy, in an open reflection with society. We believe in the transformational power of technology and in new innovative solutions that can be developed and multiplied, contributing to a more sustainable world. We are committed to this path and to giving meaning to partnerships for good. We were the country of maritime discoveries, now we are working to turn Portugal into a true digital nation".

The Digital with Purpose Global Summit 2022 was hosted by the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and held with the purpose of accelerating global digital transformation to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The summit served as a launching pad for digital technology solutions aimed at addressing the sustainability challenges facing society and the planet. But it was not limited to debate and the presentation of case studies. The companies and organizations that attended committed themselves to, over the next year, developing and presenting projects aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, based on principles of transparency and reporting, as well as the development of digital technology with positive social impacts.

Companies and organizations as diverse as the United Nations, the DG Connect of the European Commission, Carbon Trust, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and private sector digital innovation leaders such as Accenture, Amazon, Deloitte, DXC technology, Ericsson, Google, Huawei, Microsoft, NOS and Unipartner, as well as some key vertical players such as Bayer, Husqvarna, Medtronic and Shell have committed to the challenge launched by Digital with Purpose. That is, to develop digital solutions with the following requirements:

- Support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and establish practical steps to become a sustainable, purpose-driven company/organization;

- Take concrete action on climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement, with a focus on transformative solutions based on low-carbon digital solutions;

- Support transparency in developing and adopting an agreed methodology for calculating and reporting the positive impact of the digital solution;

- And develop and realize digital technology with positive social impact with a collaborative action agenda for 2030.

During the summit, some organizations additionally presented initiatives aligned with the goals of Digital with Purpose: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Global Innovation Hub will host a digital event during COP27 to highlight the importance of digitalization and support a methodology for evaluating digital innovations; Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) will hold an event during the Daring Cities Conference to engage cities that want to explore the opportunity to realize a digital agenda, with a focus on human needs; GO FAIR will host a session at the FAIR Convergence Symposium to explore how data can support a digital agenda with the goal of bringing data tools to track the impacts of digital solutions.

At the end of the summit, Luís Neves, CEO of GeSI, confirmed the second edition of Digital with Purpose will take place in 2023, again in Lisbon, from September 27 to 29. Companies and organizations will have the opportunity to present and report on the efforts made over the next twelve months to achieve the initiative's goal: accelerating digital development to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

About Digital with Purpose

Digital with Purpose is an ambitious global movement of leaders joining forces in a race to meet the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The Digital with Purpose movement believes in a world where technology, innovation and collaboration can transform the destinies of our planet.

About GeSI

In collaboration with members of leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies and organizations around the world, the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is a leading source of unbiased information, resources and best practices for achieving integrated social and environmental sustainability through digital technologies.

About APDC

APDC - Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications, is the entity that brings together the universe of ICT, media and telecommunications companies, and is the sector's platform for debate and reflection. It develops and stimulates initiatives that promote and accelerate the transformation of the economy and society towards digital.