Centre of Excellence – AI for UNSDG
SDGs
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were born at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012.
The purpose was to produce a set of universal goals that would help combat the urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges facing our world.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were born at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012.
UNSDG
The United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) is a consortium of 36 United Nations funds, programmes, specialised agencies, departments, and offices that play a role in development.
- It guides, supports, tracks, and oversees the coordination of development operations in 162 countries and territories.
- The UNSDG serves as a high-level forum for joint policy formation and decision-making.
- The Comprehensive Policy Review of operational activities for Development of the United Nations System is a General Assembly resolution (72/279) essential for monitoring and assessing UN development operations.
Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations in India
India is one of the 162 countries and territories where the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) guides, supports, tracks, and oversees the coordination of development operations.
India has actively participated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since their inception in 2015.
The Indian government has taken several initiatives to achieve the SDGs by 2030. India has also launched its National Indicator Framework (NIF) to monitor progress towards achieving the SDGs.
The 17 Goals
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals that aim to fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change by 2030. The goals are,
- 1. No Poverty
- 2. Zero Hunger
- 3. Good Health and Well-being
- 4. Quality Education
- 5. Gender Equality
- 6. Clean Water and Sanitation
- 7. Affordable and Clean Energy
- 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
- 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- 10. Reduced Inequalities
- 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
- 13. Climate Action
- 14. Life Below Water
- 15. Life On Land
- 16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- 17. Partnerships for the Goals
Objectives of the Centre of Excellence – AI for UNSDG
Focus Areas
Focus Areas
Conducting research revolving around SDGs.
Conference
To run a multi-disciplinary annual international conference on SGDs.
Programmes
Conduct programmes on UN SDGs (Certificate programmes or professional development/executive education/management development programmes)
Degrees/Certificates/FDP/Executive Education
Build domain expertise in Sustainability Goals as defined by United Nations
FDP (Universities/Colleges) + Executive Education Programms
Certificate Course/Credit Course
Start-ups/Consulting/Research Projects/Industry Connects
Other Objectives
- For at least 2 semesters, students shall undergo industry training/research projects/consulting projects/work on their start-up idea etc.
- If a committee of experts from the industry finds a student’s start-up idea viable for the future, the student may be given a discount on the course work so that they can work with focus to become a successful entrepreneur.
- Consulting Projects/Research Projects by faculties with the participation of students so that they can be exposed to real-life projects and consulting projects.
- There shall be participation and interaction from other departments, such as Business School, Commerce and Liberal Arts so that the best talent can be nurtured to create state-of-the-art technologies that can become economically viable models once launched in the market.
- Encourage students for start-ups in the areas focused on Sustainability Goals where the application of AI, Analytics, Big Data etc., can be applied to produce new platforms.
- Conduct webinars, industry interactions, and expert talks at regular intervals as defined in the pre-decided calendar in the areas of – Sustainability Development, AI, Analytics, Blockchain, Drones Technology, Data Engineering, Big Data, IoT, Cloud Computing, and Cognitive Analytics.
Other Objectives
Today, the world is halfway through an ambitious journey to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations in 2015. The 17 goals have provided a framework for humanity to unite by bringing governments, organisations and companies together to deliver a better, more sustainable future.
- Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Drone Technology, Big Data etc., offer vast analytical opportunities for policymakers to assess complex real-time information to track and monitor SDG progress and to design policies toward SDG advancement.
- Utilising Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Drone Technology, Big Data etc., to achieve the SDGs requires the construction of dynamic, robust, and inclusive data ecosystems for all.
- The technological advantages provided by Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Drone Technology, Big Data etc., also positively impact the achievement of a number of SDGs across all the Economy groups.
- Use of technology to address farming problems concerning disease, Market, Farming Methods, information sharing, Livestock Monitoring, social security and Reporting. The Livestock Farmers use drones to obtain an aerial overview of the area where they keep their livestock. They can track and monitor their livestock remotely, identifying any issues in real-time.
Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Drone Technology to Achieve UNSDG
Artificial Intelligence for UNSDG
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) can open up tremendous opportunities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- AI can help achieve the United Nations SDGs in several ways. According to a study published in Nature, around **82%** of the SDG's societal outcome metrics could be potentially improved by AI-based technologies. AI can also help prepare data for people living under the poverty line and help them by providing food, health, water, and energy efficiently. AI can become a powerful weapon towards a circular economy and more sustainable living.
- Its applications enable innovative solutions, improved risk assessment, better planning and faster knowledge sharing.
- AI can help solve cases across all 17 UN SDGs, eventually benefiting hundreds of millions of people in advanced and developing countries.
- UNESCO’s mandate calls inherently for a human-centred approach to AI. It aims to shift the conversation to include AI’s role in addressing current inequalities regarding access to knowledge, research and the diversity of cultural expressions and to ensure AI does not widen the technological divides within and between countries.
- AI has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and accelerate progress towards SDG. AI can be employed in ways that are trusted, transparent and inclusive.
Blockchain for UNSDG
- Blockchain technology has been used to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).
- For example, the UN team created a web service for the Ministry of Public Education (MPE) to create digital records of the issued certificates and a private blockchain to ensure that the records in the database are not manipulated through the publicly accessible service for online certification.
- Another example is that blockchain can accelerate sustainable development by enabling transparency and accountability.
- There are many examples of blockchain technology being used for UNSDG.
- Applications are being developed to achieve UNSDG to launch a global initiative to empower the disadvantaged and support vital causes such as eradicating poverty, promoting health and wellness, and providing quality education.
Drone Technology for UNSDG
- Drones can be used for various purposes, such as mapping, surveying, and monitoring. They can also be used for disaster management and relief operations.
- Drones can help achieve the UN SDGs by providing a cost-effective way to collect environmental and infrastructure data. Drones can also deliver medical supplies and vaccines to remote areas.
- Drones can monitor climate change by collecting environmental data, such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.