In an era marked by the pursuit of harmony between the economy, society, and the environment, we need technologies that optimize processes, improve resource management, and provide efficient, smart, and sustainable solutions.
The fourth public event in theMedia Lab ORT | UN75series took place on Wednesday, September 2, at the School of Communication and was streamed on the school’s YouTube channel. Participants included Eduardo Mangarelli, dean of ORT’s School of Engineering, and Giselle Della Mea, founder of 3Vectores—Uruguay’s first certified B Corporation—with journalist Gonzalo Sobral serving as moderator.
“There’s no way technology doesn’t contribute to sustainability,” said Della Mea. In fact, she noted that thanks to technology, many startups and business models were able to survive during the pandemic. “The question is whether we’re prioritizing these 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over technology; the question is what we’re using technology for.”
Mangarelli stated that “technology is part of everything these days.” In any activity, organization, or venture, technology has a role to play: it creates new spaces, new opportunities, and new ways of doing things. Among the 17 SDGs, Mangarelli said, there are examples where technology is not the main player but rather an enabler and a catalyst.
But for that to happen, the SDGs must be taken into account right from the design stage.
When we stop thinking about the SDGs and instead focus on doing things “quickly, cheaply, and in a way that generates the maximum possible value,” a series of mistakes begins to occur, leading to the system we have today: inequalities and injustices, where 1% of the world’s population holds 80% of its wealth.
Giselle Della Mea
“When we talk about technology, we immediately think of the internet, Wi-Fi, or cell phones,” explained the dean of engineering. “But technology is also found in a box,” he pointed out, “for example, in the design of the material—whether that material is biodegradable—or whether the production process for that cardboard is environmentally responsible in terms of waste and the environment.”
“The fact is that technology is evolving toward accessibility,” Mangarelli argued. And this can be achieved through two pillars: values or incentives. “On the one hand, there are companies or organizations that, from their very inception, consider—consciously or unconsciously—human values. On the other hand, there may be incentive mechanisms, as exist in certain countries. I believe that the combination of both elements ensures that, when considering the use and design of technology, these objectives are taken into account.”
Della Mea pointed out a contradiction in the current system: we are living in an era of exponential technological growth, with an economy that is 100% dependent on technology, yet we are governed by laws from 200 years ago, dating back to the industrial era. “To give an example, carbon emissions in the city of Wuhan have dropped sharply compared to last year. That also makes us ask: Was it necessary to go to work eight hours a day, Monday through Friday?” He clarified that he was not referring to manufacturing companies but expressed confidence that this experience “will radically change the way we work.”
The pandemic forced us to figure out how to use technology to cope with a range of situations in which we found ourselves limited. For example, areas such as education (distance learning), healthcare (telemedicine), and work (remote work).
Eduardo Mangarelli
The series kicked off with a presentation by Mireia Villar—the UN Resident Coordinator in Uruguay—and José Peralta—the UN Communications Advisor in our country—ata conference titled “The Decade of Action.” A week later, Pipe Stein and Juan Ciapessoni discussed, agreed, and exchanged views on how creativity can serve as “a solution to problems.” Next, Álvaro Moré and Nicolás Jodal outlined their views on the keys to social innovation, the role of the private sector, and what CEOs can do.
Latest event
- Agents of Change for a Sustainable World(September 9)