Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development

Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development shows how ICT, as an enabler for all spheres of development, can help innovate business processes and operations, and provide faster integration of new technologies into business systems. Focused on sustainability, the book addresses strategic approaches to cope with a range of climatic, environmental, cyber-security threats and other global risks, and aims to promote prosperity and economic growth. Furthermore, it explores how the adoption of new technologies, and collective action based upon a strategic behavioral theory of new leadership, can be applied when responding to specific set of conditions that allow for the proposed strategies to cope with risks.

Information technology and strategic planning complement each other to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Risk management frameworks, business continuity systems, and strategic planning methodologies such as mechanism design theory, strategic adaptive cognition (SAC), and risk mechanism theory (RMT) are the fundamental components needed to have a universal approach embedded into the national development plans agenda. As technology no longer follows an orderly, linear path, but improves exponentially, developing a strategic approach to ICT implementation help world leaders in the difficult but inspiring task of making a sustainable world and consequently find solutions to achieve the SDGs and the desired growth pattern that must be sustained, inclusive and equitable.

Features:

• Discusses for the first time the potential of ICT as a transformative power in finding solutions to climatic and economic issues.
• Illustrates comprehensive strategic planning for leaders to implement in both public and private organizations.
• Integrates standards and frameworks in the context of sustainable development along with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Describes in detail how mechanism design, risk management, business continuity systems, a comprehensive strategic planning using SAC (Strategic Adaptive Cognition) and risk mechanism theory can be used to address environmental risks and attain sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Explains eHealth as an adaptation strategy to address future changes in climate and impacts, and the links between mitigation and adaptation to ICTs.

Cesar Marolla is a sustainability and environmental management leader, researcher, author, and lecturer. Throughout his career he has brought strategy concepts to bear on many of the most challenging problems facing corporations and societies, including working with global organizations, such as Deutsche Telekom and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as well as volunteering with the U.S. Department of Defense. He has traveled extensively and worked in sustainability, climate change, and risk management, business marketing strategies, and corporate responsibility in Europe, South America, Middle East, Northeast Africa, and the United States. Marolla has assembled sustainability assessments and best practices for Fortune 500 corporations and participated in climate talks with international organizations dedicated to communicating how the information and communication technology (ICT) industries can address and provide solutions for environmental issues. He has interviewed, researched, and collaborated with world-renowned leaders from the World Health Organization (WHO), Deutsche Telekom, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nations, World Bank, University of Miami, Columbia University, and Harvard University in addition to city mayors in issues such as climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, environmental management, risk management, and public health risks.

Cesar is the recipient of the 2013 Harvard University Derek Bok Civic Prize Award that recognizes creative initiatives in community service and long-standing records of civic achievement. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Pentagon for his volunteerism supporting US troops in the Middle East and Northeast Africa under the umbrella of the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Moreover, he received a "Military Coin," which is given as a token of affiliation, support, patronage, respect, honor, and gratitude, and presented by the Camp Victory Commander in Kuwait, Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence J. Smith. Cesar earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Columbia College and a master’s degree in sustainability and environmental management from Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the Executive Program in Sustainability Leadership at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health—The Center for Health and the Global Environment and a member of the Harvard Advisory Council for the Sustainability Curriculum . He participates in many symposiums such as the Harvard Global Health Institute and University of Miami "Climate and Health" and speaks at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) "Momentum for Change- ICT Solutions" in addition to presenting his previous book Climate Health Risks in Megacities: Sustainable Management and Strategic Planning published by Taylor & Francis Group.