AVEVA convened leaders from the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, Schneider Electric, PETRONAS and Verdantix in a virtual press panel session recently, to discuss how digitisation is driving the sustainability business agenda for industrial organisations.
Participants highlighted how in the past year, the world had faced a challenge that is unique in history, in its scale and scope, and industries have been adversely affected in many ways. The key takeaway from the session was that 2021 is set to be a year of resiliency and renewed rebuilding, and Industry 4.0 will enable employees and communities to optimise sustainable processes to reduce carbon footprints.
Session moderator Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer at the UNDP, outlined the importance of organisations setting clear objectives for leveraging new technologies to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
The convergence of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud and Big Data and Analytics, is disrupting and creating opportunities across every industry. Opp highlighted how technological progress is key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, from creating new employment opportunities to promoting energy efficiency.
The panel was united in its observations that a principled approach to business and profits must go hand in hand with an organisation’s sustainability journey. The very essence of a sustainable future for the industrial sector lies in embracing common objectives such as those outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and using a public-private sector collaborative approach to drive and create new opportunities for a greener world today.
“Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development,” said Opp. “Over the last few years there has been a major shift toward sustainability, and our mission at the UNDP is actively championed by technology organisations like AVEVA, who recognise the urgency to prioritise sustainable practices and also measure the multi-faceted benefits that reducing a company’s carbon footprint and being more efficient through technology, affords.”
Craig Hayman, CEO AVEVA, commented, “The digitalisation of traditional manufacturing businesses has enabled AVEVA to provide its customers with software solutions that not only increase RoI, but also streamline their business models, in order to start to frame their environmental plans. By providing customers with real-time data and supporting improved operational efficiency, AVEVA has the potential to help thousands of customers, some of whom have very sizeable carbon footprints, to significantly cut their energy consumption and emissions.”
