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IGF 2024 WS #227 Sustainability and Data Protection in ESG Enhancement

    Organizer 1: Yee Man Ko , DotAsia
    Organizer 2: Eduardo Leal, UFG
    Organizer 3: Pyrate Ruby Passell, Student
    Organizer 4: Osei Manu Kagyah, The Institute for ICT Professionals Ghana
    Organizer 5: Karen Cruz, N/A

    Speaker 1: Denise Leal, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 2: Alina Ustinova, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
    Speaker 3: Yee Man Ko , Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

    Moderator

    Karen Cruz, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

    Online Moderator

    Pyrate Ruby Passell, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Rapporteur

    Osei Manu Kagyah, Civil Society, African Group

    Format

    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 60
    Format description: The 60-minute hybrid workshop, designed in a roundtable format, offers an ideal setting for our activity. This format encourages active participation and dynamic engagement among participants, both online and in-person, fostering a collaborative environment conducive to meaningful discussions. Through interactive dialogue, attendees will gain insights into the intersection of ESG considerations, exploring topics such as sustainability, innovation, and data protection. The roundtable layout facilitates open exchange, allowing diverse perspectives from ESG specialists, researchers, and representatives of the technical community. By leveraging this format, the workshop maximizes the sharing of knowledge and expertise, empowering participants to address environmental and social impacts while promoting transparency and ethical practices in the sustainability and cybersecurity industry.

    Policy Question(s)

    Why do we need to discuss ESG in the Internet Governance Forum? What are the sustainability and cybersecurity challenges in ESG systems? How technology can verify and check (information accuracy) in reports ?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants of the session will learn about ESG systems, sustainability and innovation, enhancing transparency, safeguarding personal data, and addressing environmental and social impacts. Participants are expected to gain: - knowledge about sustainability and innovation - networking with ESG experts, and experts on reports and sustainable data - new knowledge on the intersection between cybersecurity and ESG - Insights on the challenges and risks on data privacy in ESG context - Tools on data protection in ESG context Participants will also have the opportunity to provide inputs in the theme, collaborating to a report that will be published in the platforms of the stakeholders and organizations involved in this session.

    Description:

    Globally, ESG considerations are gaining importance, with the rapid growing cyber security industry. Both industries are emerging and unaware of intersection, but seldom is there discussion on this perspective. In addition to ensuring data and systems protection, the cybersecurity industry is now facing another important challenge, which is the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Facing this reality and intersection of important topics, the experts’ session will cover important informations on how to improve ESG system to enhance transparency while protect personal data on sustainability reporting The speakers, from different backgrounds, like ESG specialists, researchers, representatives of the technical community and civil society, will explore the theme, speaking about adaptation to emerging trends, addressing environmental impact, embracing sustainability, and prioritizing social responsibility and ethical practices to thrive in this ever-evolving landscape. While technology offers solutions for climate change, it also presents environmental challenges, such as the use of genetic resources in free access databases, management of waste and the energy consumption associated with electronic devices, data centers, and communication networks primarily powered by fossil fuels. This session also covers challenges, highlighting how the ESG standards and principles have collaborated on the advancement of technology and internet use towards a more sustainable environment, it also covers the ESG issues related to environment and use of data on reports. On top of cybersecurity’s critical role in protecting systems and data, equally as cybersecurity has mainly been viewed as a technology issue, it is now also regarded as a key ESG concern, falling under the “Social” pillar. ESG frameworks are a tangible means of evaluating corporate behavior; by incorporating cybersecurity, a new dimension is added, giving insight into cyber behaviors and risks which form a critical part of the bigger ESG picture.

    Expected Outcomes

    Session Outcomes: A - Expanding the vision of the people present in relation to How we might improve the ESG system to enhance information transparency while protecting personal data on sustainability reporting. How can we leverage some innovative technology? B- Clarify what kind of technology and general investments it has to be made to reach the expected goals and understand what can come from this development scenario. Specific Outcomes: A- Report summarizing the session shared in the platforms of GERN, Youth LACIGF, AprIGF, and YCIG, by the end of the session in December 2024. B- Compilation of best practices and case studies that present successful initiatives and approaches to promote inclusion and equity in the use of technology in the environment. This resource will be disseminated through online platforms. C- Follow-up event in partnership of GERN, Youth LACIGF, AprIGF and YCIG in 2025.

    Hybrid Format: The session aims to facilitate a 60 minutes roundtable where participants will be part of the session itself. Tentative agenda: 5’: Introduction and background. The moderator explains how the session will take place and points out that attendees can ask questions by using the hand-raising option or in the chat (online), or by requesting the floor (onsite). 35’: The moderator introduces the policy issues and addresses the speakers with questions in a roundtable fashion. 15’: Open floor. The moderator invites all participants to take the floor either online or onsite. 5’: Key takeaways (rapporteur) and conclusions. The session is going to ensure interactions through a Q&A and comment section in the online application where the session will be taking place (e.g. Zoom). Both online and onsite moderators will make sure that the questions and comments are not overlooked through effective communication, but play an important role throughout the session