Session
Youth IGF DRC
Athanase Bahizire, Youth IGF DRC, Technical Community, Africa Jasmine Ko, DotAsia, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Ida Padikuor Na-Tei, ISOC YSG/ CTN Technologies, Private Sector, Africa Denise Leal, YCIG/ Youth LAC IGF/ UnB, Civil Society, GRULAC James Amattey (Africa), NORENSON/ ISOC Ghana, Africa
Karen Woo, Project Officer at ITU, International Organisation, Asia-Pacific Jasmine Ko, Project Manager at DotAsia, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Ida Padikuor Na-Tei, CEO at CTN Technologies, Private Sector, Africa
Athanase Bahizire
Denise Leal
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
7.1
7.3
7.a
7.b
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
9.1
9.4
9.a
9.b
9.c
12. Responsible Production and Consumption
12.2
12.4
12.5
12.6
12.7
12.8
13. Climate Action
15. Life on Land
15.1
15.3
15.5
15.b
17. Partnerships for the Goals
17.16
17.17
17.18
17.19
17.6
17.7
17.9
Targets: SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all: This session contributes to SDG 7 by promoting energy efficiency and resource conservation. Proper disposal and recycling of electronic devices help recover valuable materials and reduce the energy required for manufacturing new products, hence supporting the transition to cleaner energy sources and sustainable energy systems. SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation: This session intersects with SDG 9 by fostering innovation in e-waste management technologies and promoting sustainable infrastructure development. This session encourages the adoption of eco-friendly practices and supports the transition towards a circular economy model. SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns: This goal focuses on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, which are essential for managing e-waste effectively. By promoting practices such as reducing waste generation, recycling, and reusing electronic devices, e-waste management contributes significantly to achieving SDG 12. SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts: Proper e-waste management reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with inefficient disposal methods like incineration and landfilling. E-waste management plays a crucial role in combating climate change and achieving SDG 13 objectives by mitigating environmental degradation and preserving natural resources, SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss: E-waste contains valuable materials like gold, copper, and rare earth elements. Recycling these materials reduces the need for new mining activities, which can cause deforestation and habitat destruction. Improper e-waste disposal also pollutes soil and water with harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Efficient management ensures safe treatment and recycling, minimizing land degradation and protecting ecosystems. SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development: E-waste is a global problem that requires expertise from diverse stakeholders. International cooperation through partnerships is essential to develop and implement effective policies and regulations for responsible e-waste management across the globe. Many developing countries lack the infrastructure and expertise for proper e-waste management. Partnerships can facilitate knowledge/resource sharing and capacity-building initiatives, helping these countries implement effective e-waste management practices.
The session will feature two moderators, one online and one onsite, along with three speakers: two onsite and one online. We will alternate between in-person and online speakers, guaranteeing equal chances for participation and interaction. The moderator will begin the session with a brief icebreaker in order to get everyone's attention and warm up the audience. We will use dynamic presentations prepared in advance and various online tools and platforms to increase engagement and participation during the session. This includes real-time polls, Q&A activities, and a shared Google Doc to capture insights and comments that may not be addressed due to time constraints. The link to the presentation documents shared by the speakers will be provided to the audience and included in the session report for future reference. We will strive to create an environment that encourages active engagement and dialogue, with opportunities for both onsite and online participants to share their perspectives and contribute to the conversation.
In today's digital age, technological advancements are at the forefront of innovation, yet managing electronic waste (e-waste) poses a significant challenge. In this session, we will discuss the topic of e-waste management and explore strategies for promoting sustainable practices in the digital transformation journey. We explore the current e-waste landscape, examining the volume of e-waste generated, its impact, and the challenges associated with its improper disposal and the environmental and health hazards it presents. We will showcase successful e-waste recycling and management initiatives from different regions, highlighting the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the implementation of sustainable practices. We will look into the EcoInternet Index Report by DotAsia and APNIC Foundation (https://www.ajitora.asia/eco-internet-index-2023/ ) and explore the ITU Extended Producer Responsibility - EPR (https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-L.1021-201804-I/en ) principle as an effective regulatory model for e-waste management. Some countries have introduced principles, such as the “right to repair”, ease of future recyclability, and use of refurbished devices or carbon-neutral packaging. We will also explore these principles as important factors to be considered by designers, developers, and companies at the early stage of the technology development chain. Effective e-waste management requires collaboration among various stakeholders. We will emphasise the importance of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and coordinated efforts among policymakers, industry leaders, civil society organizations, and end-users to establish sustainable e-waste management systems.
We will have one onsite moderator directing the session and giving the floor to the speakers both onsite and online. The speakers will use presentations prepared in advance, and other interactive tools, which will help to keep the discussion focused and save time. During the Q&A moment with the audience, the onsite moderator will be attentive to the physical queue and will ask the online moderator in the case of hands raised or written comments, in which case the questions will be allowed starting with the online hands and written chats, and then following the physical queue, and so on. The online moderator has the main task of maintaining the order of the raised hands and written chat, reading the questions and giving the floor to online audience speakers. That way we will achieve an equal experience between the online and onsite audience.
Report
- The session highlighted the increase in global e-waste production and emphasized its environmental and health hazards when not managed properly. The scale of e-waste continues to rise, with only a small part currently being formally recycled.
- Examples such as the ITU Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle and initiatives like the EcoInternet Index Report were shared as practical regulatory frameworks and metrics that enable effective e-waste management.
- The session underscored the importance of partnerships among policymakers, industries, civil society organizations, and end-users. Shared knowledge and coordinated action are crucial for establishing effective and sustainable e-waste management systems.
- Policymakers and regulators should encourage or mandate the adoption of the EPR principle to hold manufacturers and producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.
- Designers, developers, and companies should prioritize ease of repair, future recyclability, and use of refurbished devices in their product development processes. - Stakeholders, including civil society organizations and industries, should launch educational campaigns to raise awareness about sustainable e-waste practices and foster cross-sector collaborations.