Broaden your skills for free with the Online Digital4Sustainability Learning Path Program offered by UNSSC

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Closing Date: 31 December 2024

Broaden your skills for free with the Online Digital4Sustainability Learning Path Program offered by UNSSC

The Digital4Sustainability Learning Path explores the transformational role digital solutions and innovations can play in advancing environmental and social sustainability. In particular, how can digital technologies power the green transition, and how can the digital transition be green?

Introduction

We live in a technologically advanced world, spending more than a third of our lives in front of a screen, connected with people and places across the planet — witnesses to the escalating catastrophes caused by socio-environmental degradation. Despite the power technology affords us, despite the heatwaves and hurricanes, and despite the growing alarm, we are failing to leverage the potential of digital technologies to make our world more sustainable, equitable and peaceful. Governments, businesses, civil society and individuals have choices to make in harnessing and managing new technologies to safeguard the environment and human freedoms.

The Digital4Sustainability Learning Path has been developed through a joint partnership between UNEP and the UN System Staff College (UNSSC) in collaboration with GIZ, the EU, the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES) and the Office of the UN Technology Envoy. The CODES Action Plan for a Sustainable Planet in the Digital Age has inspired the content.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the learning path, participants will understand:

Key concepts, including digitalization, digital transformation, and digital sustainability

The role of digital transformation in countering the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution
How to leverage the potential of digital transformation in advancing sustainability using a systems approach
The negative impacts of digital transformation and how to mitigate them to ensure sustainability.

Course methodology

Each module requires 3-4 hours of time and can be completed asynchronously following a self-paced learning method.

Course contents

There are four modules in this learning path which will be released chronologically:

Module 1: Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development: a brief introduction to the profound changes our world is going through as we rapidly scale up the use of technology in every sphere of our lives. This module introduces digital transformation with a walk-through of relevant terminology and emerging trends. It explores challenges and entry points for effective action, presenting real examples from around the world.

Module 2: Digital Sustainability for Climate Action: explores the role of digital transformation in combatting human-induced climate change. This module provides an overview of key opportunities and threats that arise from leveraging digital transformation for climate change mitigation and adaptation. It also delves into real examples from around the globe, demonstrating how digital innovation can be effectively put into action.
Module 3: Digital Sustainability for Biodiversity Action: provides insights into the opportunities and challenges presented by leveraging digital innovation for biodiversity action. Through real-world examples, this module provides an overview of how digital transformation can be harnessed to protect and sustain our planet’s rich variety of life forms.
Module 4: Digital Sustainability for Pollution Action: delves into the crucial role that digital technologies play in combatting pollution. It explores the role of emerging technologies in accelerating systemic change to prevent pollution. The module provides insights into how digital technologies can mitigate the risks arising out of six major types of pollution rising at an alarming rate globally.

Target audience

The program is open to anyone curious to explore the answers to “what is the role technology can play in advancing sustainable outcomes and what steps will be needed to get us there?”