Technology

Technology plays a central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The transformative power of technology can accelerate progress towards all the SDGs by driving economic growth, reducing inequalities, enhancing access to basic services, and promoting sustainability.

Under SDG 9, technology, particularly in terms of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), is a key enabler of industrial innovation and infrastructure development. ICT has the potential to drive economic growth by enhancing productivity, creating jobs, and fostering entrepreneurship. Moreover, it can contribute to making industries more sustainable by facilitating the transition towards smart manufacturing and circular economy models.

Regarding SDG 4, technology can greatly enhance access to quality education. Digital technologies, including e-learning platforms, can break down barriers to education, such as geographical distance, socio-economic status, and physical disabilities. They can also enrich the learning process by enabling personalized, student-centered learning experiences.

In the context of SDG 3, technology has a profound impact on health outcomes. Medical technologies, from simple devices like thermometers to complex systems like MRI machines, have revolutionized healthcare delivery. Furthermore, digital health technologies, such as telemedicine and mobile health apps, can enhance access to health services, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.

For SDG 13, technology offers powerful tools for mitigating and adapting to climate change. Renewable energy technologies can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while climate information services can enhance resilience to climate impacts. Furthermore, digital technologies can facilitate the monitoring and reporting of climate actions, contributing to greater transparency and accountability.

However, the benefits of technology are not automatic, and there are significant challenges to overcome, including the digital divide, cybersecurity threats, and ethical issues related to privacy and data ownership. Thus, policy interventions and multi-stakeholder partnerships are needed to ensure that technology serves as a catalyst for sustainable development and does not exacerbate inequalities.

Geopolitical applications of negative emissions and solar geoengineering technologies.
Green technologies (e.g., green preservation, processing, extraction, and analysis) and Industry 4.0 (e.g., artificial intelligence, big data, smart sensors, robotics, blockchain, and the Internet of Things) technologies rapidly becoming a valuable part of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)over the past decade. These technologies demonstrate high potential to foster ecological and digital transitions of food systems, delivering societal, economic, and environmental outcomes. While a range of green technologies has already provided innovative solutions for major food system transformations, the application of digital and other Industry 4.0 technological innovations is yet to be adopted to harness their full potential to achieve a healthier, smart, more sustainable, and more resilient food future.
Ultrafiltration (UF) of rainwater with chlorination can produce water for potable purposes supporting SDG 6. Long-term tests demonstrate that the produced water meets the WHO standards. PV powered rainwater ultrafiltration cost ranges from 0.04 to 0.13 US$ m3. The developed technique can be implemented with economic viability even for small buildings. The technique can be a reliable alternative to traditional water supply approaches in remote areas across the world.
The research seeks to estimate biogas production potential from livestock and slaughterhouse wastes in Ghana, in order to promote biogas technology as a possible alternative in the search for sustainable energy management methods and in support of the SDG goals.
Smart healthcare monitoring is assessed for its ability to improve the treatment or early detection of falls. In this project, the authors propose a CNN-based prediction model with the use of edge computing and IoT paradigms.
Proposal for a new machine learning-based smart irrigation system, designed to aid the development of more sustainable agricultural practices, saving water and contributing towards better food security.
This chapter aligns with Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Goal 13: Climate Action by exploring the potential of AI in facilitating agricultural water management in the context of climate change and water scarcity.
This chapter advances UN SDG goals 11 and 13 by examining the current state of CO2 capture and conversion technologies and their deployment at the industrial scale to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions.
Elsevier,

Journal of Responsible Technology,
Volume 12,
2022,
100049

Drawing on their project investigating multiple aspects of Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS), the authors present their 'TAS for Health at Home' findings, exploring how assistive technology could and should be designed to support healthcare at home using principles of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
Elsevier, Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Volume 114, September 2022
Development of a siren identification system, using deep learning, for hearing-impaired people. Supports SDG 10.

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