Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership joins the Digital with Purpose Movement

GeSI and the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) set out aspiration to jointly shape the Digital with Purpose Movement


Published on: Sep 14, 2020 | Written by: Kaoru Inoue

GeSI and the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) set out aspiration to jointly shape the Digital with Purpose Movement and champion digital solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

BRUSSELS – 14 SEPTEMBER 2020: The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) have set out joint aspirations to cooperate on the DIGITAL WITH PURPOSE MOVEMENT to enhance the effectiveness of sustainability efforts through the development and deployment of digital technology.

The Digital with Purpose Movement is the next phase of GeSI’s initiative following the launch of its Digital with Purpose report in 2019. The report found that digital technologies could have a transformational impact on our ability to meet the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve this, both the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and other key sectors need to fully integrate the agenda into their activities and organisational culture.  

CISL has committed to the Movement, joining a cohort of business associations, GeSI member companies and partners, as well as service providers including NGOs, data providers and consultants to launch the multi-stakeholder, multi-sector initiative. The Movement will establish a mechanism for individual and collective action to catalyse progress on both the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement through the development and deployment of digital technology.

The GeSI-CISL collaboration seeks to co-operate in shaping the Movement towards mobilising action against the Digital with Purpose ‘Universal Commitments’ – otherwise known as the “Pledge.”

The Pledge is described in the GeSI and Deloitte Report Digital with Purpose: Delivering a SMARTer 2030 as:

• RE-COMMIT TO THE 2030 AGENDA

• TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

• EMBRACE PRINCIPLES OF IMPACT TRANSPARENCY

• IMPACT LED DEVELOPMENT & DEPLOYMENT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

The Parties agree to collaborate in further shaping the Pledge, in order to mobilise companies to join the Movement.

CISL Director Dame Polly Courtice said:

“The technology industry has immense potential to provide leadership and solutions ‘at scale’ in the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals – from tackling climate change, to supporting more fair and equal societies.  It can do this both through addressing its own social and environmental footprint, and even more importantly through the significant reach of its technologies.  CISL is committed to working with the industry and GeSI to support the technology sector to achieve its full impact potential.”

GeSI Chief Executive Officer Luis Neves said:

“Digital with Purpose makes a strong case for the deployment of impactful digital technologies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Setting such an ambitious aspiration requires a shared vision and deep commitment from all sectors and stakeholders to collaborate. GeSI is honoured to have CISL on board as we work to build a purposeful movement for a more sustainable future.


About GeSI 

GeSI is a leading source of impartial information, resources and best practice for achieving integrated social and environmental sustainability through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). GeSI facilitates real world solutions to real world issues both within the ICT industry and the greater sustainability community. With a diverse and global member base and partnerships, GeSI fosters collaborative and innovative approaches to sustainability, supporting member initiatives in both developed and developing nations to quickly and effectively respond to issues such as climate change, energy efficiency, e-waste management and resource efficiency, responsible supply chain practices, privacy, digital trust and responsibility and human rights.

About CISL 

CISL is a globally influential Institute developing leadership and solutions for a sustainable economy. Its Rewiring the Economy framework shows how the economy can be ‘rewired’ through focused collaboration between business, government and finance institutions to deliver positive outcomes for people and environment in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For over three decades it has built individual and organisational leadership capacity and created industry-leading collaborations to catalyse change and accelerate the path to a sustainable economy. Its Rewiring Leadership framework sets out our model for the leadership needed to achieve this. CISL’s interdisciplinary research builds the evidence base for practical action.

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