Huawei spearheaded the Green Development Summit at this year’s MWC Barcelona 2024. Themed “Thrive with Green ICT,” the summit served as a pivotal platform for international discussions on leveraging digital technology to propel green development and foster an inclusive, sustainable digital world.
A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Jeffrey Zhou, President of ICT Marketing at Huawei. Zhou emphasized the transformative role of digital technology in advancing global sustainable development.
He reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to ongoing technological innovation in collaboration with global partners. The objective? To bolster digital inclusion, cultivate thriving digital talent ecosystems, and contribute to an inclusive and sustainable digital landscape.
One key initiative unveiled at the summit was the Green Digital Action (GDA), introduced by Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau.
The GDA, launched last year with over 40 partners including Huawei, aims to accelerate industry-wide commitments to address climate challenges. It focuses on leveraging international standards to drive widespread network adoption and sustainable development.
Huawei’s dedication to digital inclusion was further underscored by the update on its TECH4ALL initiative, launched during MWC Barcelona 2019. Over the past five years, Huawei has collaborated with global partners to develop innovative applications powered by digital technology.
These efforts have delivered tangible, positive impacts in remote areas, among the underprivileged, and in environmental conservation endeavors.
The summit also featured insights from esteemed guests such as Ms. Susanne Pedersen, Director of IUCN’s Science & Data Center. Pedersen highlighted the potential of technological advancements, including remote sensing, AI, machine learning, and E-DNA, in bolstering conservation efforts.
These tools offer faster, more reliable data access and analysis, paving the way for more effective conservation strategies.
Dr. Miao Fengchun, Chief of UNESCO’S Unit for Technology and AI in Education, provided updates on the Technology-enabled Open Schools for All project. This UNESCO initiative, guided by human-centered principles, aims to enhance human competencies, ensure digital inclusion, and address gender disparities in the digital sphere.
The significance of skills development for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 8 was highlighted by Friedrich Huebler, Head of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Soledad Patiño, Coordinator of the UNESCO Global Skills Academy.
They emphasized how digital technology can empower individuals and communities by improving skill acquisition.
In a nod to nurturing future talent, six distinguished European universities and colleges received the Huawei ICT Academy plaque. These institutions, including the DTI Academy, Yalova University, Learneo-academie, Fondazione Cultura & Innovazione, Politecnico di Bari, and University of Alicante, will collaborate with Huawei to advance digital talent cultivation in Europe.
