"Achim Steiner disagrees with the idea that development is ineffective"

"Achim Steiner disagrees with the idea that development is ineffective"

In a world grappling with profound disruption and fragmentation, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany served as a beacon of hope for sustainable development. The event, which focused on mobilizing private capital for projects in emerging markets and developing economies, saw the launch of several initiatives aimed at scaling capital for sustainable development.

One of the major initiatives was SCALED, a blended finance platform that aims to improve scalability by reducing transaction costs. Launched by the governments of Germany, Canada, France, and the UK, as well as major financial institutions such as Allianz, AXA, and Zurich Insurance Group, SCALED is a collective commitment to harness AI for peace, equity, and intergenerational justice.

Another significant development at the conference was the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This global initiative is focused on promoting the equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development and deployment of artificial intelligence worldwide. The declaration emphasizes the deployment of AI in ways that empower developing countries and support achieving the SDGs without leaving anyone behind.

Key principles and commitments of the Hamburg Declaration include human rights and inclusion, equity and accessibility, ethics and responsible design, environmental sustainability, and multi-stakeholder cooperation. These principles anchor AI deployment firmly in human rights, social equity, and environmental stewardship for sustainable development, making it a foundational framework promoting AI as a shared global tool for advancing the SDGs inclusively and ethically.

Achim Steiner, a United Nations veteran, spoke at the conference and emphasized the transformative potential of AI. However, he warned that without investment and engagement, dozens of economies and hundreds of millions, if not billions of people, could be left behind. Steiner also highlighted the challenge of making sustainable projects bankable, stating that whether a project is "bankable" has more to do with policy and fiscal conditions than it is about the technology.

In Kenya, targeted policies have driven the growth of the electric scooter industry and attracted renewable energy investments. On the other hand, the electric motorcycle has not taken off in Africa when it has in China, due to petrol being heavily subsidised.

Meanwhile, Germany ranks fifth globally in installed solar capacity, reaching about 100 gigawatts peak (GWp) as of the end of last year. This achievement is largely due to Germany's decision to introduce a feed-in tariff for solar projects 20 years ago, making it profitable for anyone who would invest in solar infrastructure and guarantee a revenue stream.

Steiner leaves UNDP with a UNDP that is future smart, future ready, and will weather these difficult times and emerge as one of the most vital platforms for nations to work together. The Hamburg Declaration and SCALED are testament to this commitment, providing a beacon of hope for a sustainable and equitable future.

1. The Hamburg Sustainability Conference, emphasizing energy transition and climate change, mobilized private capital for projects in emerging markets, launching initiatives like SCALED, a blended finance platform aimed at improving scalability in clean energy for intergenerational justice.
2. SCALED, a collaborative effort by governments and major financial institutions, leverages AI to promote peace, equity, and sustainability, and is a key component in the global effort to achieve the SDGs.
3. Another crucial development at the conference was the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the SDGs, focusing on equitable and sustainable AI deployment to empower developing countries and support the achievement of the SDGs without marginalizing anyone.
4. The principles of the Hamburg Declaration, such as human rights, inclusion, ethics, environmental sustainability, and multi-stakeholder cooperation, will ensure AI development aligns with human rights, social equity, and environmental stewardship for sustainable development.
5. A United Nations veteran, Achim Steiner, addressed the conference, appreciating the transformative potential of AI but cautioning that investment and engagement are crucial to avoid leaving numerous economies and billions of people behind.
6. In Kenya, targeted policies have stimulated the growth of the electric scooter industry and attracted renewable energy investments, while the electric motorcycle has yet to gain traction due to subsidized petrol.
7. Germany is a global leader in renewable energy, reaching about 100 gigawatts peak installed solar capacity thanks to a feed-in tariff introduced two decades ago, making solar projects profitable for investors and guaranteeing a revenue stream.
8. Steiner's departure from UNDP leaves behind an organization that is future smart, future ready, and committed to weathering difficult times and becoming a vital platform for nations to collaborate on sustainable development and the SDGs.
9. The Hamburg Declaration and SCALED stand as testaments to this commitment, providing a beacon of hope for a sustainable and equitable future, where clean energy, corporate responsibility, education-and-self-development, finance, general-news, lifestyle, sports, sustainability, and technology all play pivotal roles.

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