The Force for Good initiative released its inaugural Technology as a Force for Good Report, which examines the potential of technology to support the SDGs and the critical role of the technology industry and its leaders in this regard. It recognizes that technology and the technology industry are likely to be the deciding factors in whether the SDGs and human security needs are met.
Titled, ‘Technology for a Secure, Sustainable and Superior Future,’ the report analyzes 100 of the world’s leading technology companies across environmental, social, and governance (ESG), sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. , “to identify the emerging common ground” on how to be “a force for good” in the world. The report examines recent innovative and scaled initiatives that have the potential to drive systemic change towards sustainable development.
Emphasizing that digital technologies sustain life, work, health, and learning for billions of people, the report warns that nearly half of the world’s population remains without an Internet connection. It argues that technology can reduce the cost of achieving the SDGs by up to USD 55 trillion, enabling 103 of the 169 SDG targets. The report estimates the total cost of achieving the SDGs by 2030 at USD 195 trillion, out of USD 450 trillion of the world’s total stock of liquid capital.
Its authors further argue that investing in innovation could increase global GDP by three times by 2060, “raising the average per capita income worldwide to that of South Korea today.” Given the role of technology companies in “imagining, developing, and distributing innovations and solutions that have the potential to change the world,” the report found that such companies “have an important leadership role in making capitalism work for everyone.”
The publication identifies a sub-group of the largest technology companies that are embracing sustainable development and impact by “making bold strategic investments in a number of critical future technologies that will build a better world for everyone.” Efforts include becoming net negative greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, eliminating waste, or moving toward ambitious diversity and inclusion targets. These companies resulting in continuous innovation in assets, strategies, and capabilities will position them as potential future leaders in the technology sector, the report argues.
Force for Good works with major institutions and stakeholders to accelerate their efforts to tackle increasingly complex and interconnected challenges such as climate change, social inclusion, and sustainable development, to create ” effect for the good of the world.” [Publication: Technology for a Secure, Sustainable and Superior Future] [Executive Summary] [Publication Landing Page]
