By Stephen Farrant, Director at IBLF
IBLF’s redefining growth strategy is gaining significant traction with business leaders around the world, with its focus on identifying new models of growth that are smart, inclusive and responsible, underpinned by leadership and collaboration.
Now, IBLF, working in partnership with ARM Holdings and supported by Fronesys, is developing Technology for Sustainable Development (T4SD), a new programme that will bring together leaders of information and communications technology (ICT) companies to discuss practical ways of enhancing their contribution to responsible business leadership and sustainable development. ARM challenged IBLF to design a new programme on technology and sustainability that would focus on important areas that were being overlooked.
IBLF has been working with Fronesys to analyse trends in the ICT sector and has also mapped existing corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives. As a result of this research, IBLF is proposing to create a platform to develop solutions within three areas of activity:
- The circular economy: exploring how the ICT industry can develop and enable the circular economy, in which products or their components are reused and more of their precious material, energy and labour inputs are restored. This will support IBLF’s drive for smart and responsible growth.
- Big Brother and personal data security: exploring how the ICT industry should respond when presented with an unclear legal framework and different regulatory and moral codes, how conflicting stakeholder opinions can be managed and integrated, and how the sector can work together to improve levels of trust and digital confidence. This will support IBLF’s drive for smart and responsible growth.
- The Lost Generation: exploring the challenge of structural unemployment among youth, and the extent to which opportunities afforded by technology could help these young people find viable economic and social engagement on a global stage. This will support IBLF’s drive for inclusive growth.
The programme will be based on IBLF’s proven model for sectoral collaboration and collective action as exemplified by its International Tourism Partnership.
ICT has a huge role to play as an enabler for other sectors to achieve social and environmental gains. However, ICT companies also need to continue to address their own impacts to ensure they have maximum possible credibility as responsible businesses. We envisage that the T4SD Programme will identify practical opportunities for the industry to contribute to smart, inclusive and responsible growth and will act as a powerful catalyst for transformation.
ARM is the lead partner and the first Founding Member of the programme, and will take a key role in directing the programme with IBLF. ARM will also be looking for opportunities to introduce its output to its 900+ Partner community.
We are actively inviting feedback on this programme proposal from leaders in the field.
