With the advancement of technology nowadays, the role of science and innovation is increasingly valued when it comes to realizing sustainable development goals. The meeting focused specifically on SDG 11(Sustainable Cities and Communities) on implementing new urban agenda with the aid of technology.
The meeting began with a series of opening speeches delivered by distinguished guests. Mr Elefante first illustrated the significance of digital design making tools, such as information modelling, to foster innovation on building and designing cities. Dr Abu-Ghazaleh mentioned that technology acts as driver for everyday life in modern age and brings people and issues to a single community. Mr Guier provided certain examples that highlighted the importance of connecting technology to data on sustainability, including automated waste collection programs and driverless car schemes. Ms Sherif, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Habitat, added that climate change also posed challenges in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth of cities. Dr. Lubin described the linkage between corporates, cities and sustainability by the business sustainability maturity curve.
The conference followed by two dialogue sessions conducted by different representatives. The first focuses on the emergence of technology where speakers presented various types of information technologies that are incorporated in daily lives. For example, robotics, big data and artificial intelligence. In order to achieve a unified vision on the use of technology to develop sustainable cities, panellists agreed that accountability, public will and team environment are critical elements to be facilitated. The second session concerns the Network 11 Initiative in the Arab region that outlined the challenges of operating in (post-) conflict urban context as well as difficulties in addressing the gap between humanitarian aid and development.
Meeting: United Nations Human Settlements Programme: The Role of Technology: Implementing the New Urban Agenda to Achieve Sustainable Development
Date/Location: Conference Room 2, UNHQ NYC; 10:00-13:00; June 20th 2018
Speakers: Ms Maimunah Mohd Sherif (UN Under Secretary General and Executive Director, UN Habitat)
Mr. Carl Elefante (FAIA, President, American Institute of Architects)
Mr Guy Gier (FAIA, President, American Institute of Architects of New York)
Dr. David A. Lubin (Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Constellation Research and Technology, Inc.)
Mr Michal Mlynar (Permanent Representative of Slovak Republic to the United Nations)
Professor Urs Gauchat (CSU, Dean Emeritus of the College of Architecture and Design)
Mr. John Paul Farner (Director of Technology and Civic Innovation, Microsoft)
Mr Jason Whittet (Associate Director in Innovation in Urban Data and Technology, Rockefeller Foundation)
Professor Sarah Williams (Director, Civic Data Design Lab, MIT School of Architecture and Planning)
Professor Mahesh Daas (Ed.D, DPACSA, ACSA Distinguished Professor, Dean, School of Architecture and Design, University of Kansas)
Mr. Phillip G. Bernstein (FAIA RIBA LEED APM Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer Yale School of Architecture)
Dr Talal Abu-Ghazaleh (PhD, CEO, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization, Senator)
Professor Lance Jay Brown (FAIA, CSU, ACSA Distinguished Professor, CCNY Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture)
Ms Zena Ali-Ahed (Director, Regional Office for Arab States, UN-Habitat)
Written By: WIT representative, Rosalind Cheung
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