14 DAY TRIAL // In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, Microsoft is emphasizing the necessity to turn to technology as a way to resolve environmental challenges. At the same time, the software giant is indicating that leveraging information and communication technology solutions is not enough in itself. This way, the agreement with UNEP is actually focused on boosting the current level of international collaboration and knowledge sharing, in an effort to get NGOs, but also governments and companies in the private sector involved.
“We view our partnership with Microsoft as key to delivering solutions on a scalable level to a community of more than 190 nations and the UN system as a whole,” Achim Steiner, UNEP executive director, explained. “UNEP’s ability to mobilise information technology and the platforms for sharing environmental information is a precondition for working together as an international community to tackle environmental issues.”
According to the Redmond company, the new agreement inked with UNEP at the 25th session of the Governing Council and Global Ministerial Environment Forum is a step forward in making environmental issues a global collaboration. In this regard, the software giant's alliance with UNEP is designed to benefit all environmental stakeholders worldwide. “Without equitable access to information and the capacity for developing countries to engage on an equal level in negotiating key agreements like the climate change treaty or the biodiversity convention, we will not make much progress,” Steiner added.
Together, Microsoft and UNEP have indicated commitment to take access to environmental research and scientific information to the next level and to make it available to all interested parties. This will be done through the development of what the duo has referred to as an integrated knowledge platform that will streamline collaboration between the actors involved. At the same time, both Microsoft and UNEP have pledged support for the creation of applications with environmental sustainability management capabilities.
“If the world is to address the challenges of climate and environmental sustainability at scale, there will need to be many more partnerships between companies, governments and nongovernmental organisations,” Rob Bernard, chief environmental strategist at Microsoft, revealed. “We are honoured to work with UNEP to help accelerate leveraging science and ICT to enable people around the globe to both manage and reduce their impact on the environment. By collaborating with UNEP, we will use technology to work more effectively towards meaningful environmental change.”