IGF 2012 Workshop Proposal :: (No: 166) The Impact of the Internet on Sustainable Social and Economic Development

Status:

IGF Theme(s) for workshop: Internet Governance for Development [IG4D] cross cutting priority

Main theme question address by workshop: IG4D: What does it take in terms of IG policy, legal and regulatory approaches? What are the challenges to and opportunities?

Concise description of the proposed workshop:

2012 is the 20th year since the global community committed to a plan of action to move the world towards sustainable social and economic development. In June 2012, world leaders will have met to discuss progress on commitments made 20 years earlier, on how the world was to meet the economic development needs of the present, without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. But during those 20 years, the Internet became the defining technology of our day, connecting us in unprecedented ways, at unprecedented speeds. How has the evolution of the Internet, its infrastructure, technology and content impacted the world’s transition to sustainability, for better or worse? How should the Internet be considered in global sustainable development planning for the future?

This workshop will bring to the IGF two high level keynote speakers to present on the outcomes of Rio+20, one representing UN DESA’s views on progress and a second presenting a critical assessment of the outcomes of the event. A report on how issues related to the development and deployment of the Internet were dealt with at Rio will be presented, based on IISD and APC’s attendance at Rio. Three to four panelists will then comment on a range of issues that could begin to define a new coherence between the Internet Economy and low carbon, responsible economies.

Background Paper: icts_internet_sd_new_paradigm.pdf

Name of the organiser(s) of the workshop and their affiliation to various stakeholder groups:

Heather Creech, Director, Global Connectivity, International Institute for Sustainable Development (international independent research institute)
Anriette Esterhausen, Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications (International NGO)
Tim Kelly, Senior ICT specialist, World Bank (Multilateral)

Have you, or any of your co-organisers, organised an IGF workshop before?: Yes

Please provide link(s) to workshop(s) or report(s):

http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=WSProposals2011View&wspid=199#report

Provide the names and affiliations of the panellists you are planning to invite:

Sha Zukang, Under Secretary General, UN DESA or representative attending the IGF, on the RIO+20 outcomes Mark Halle, Vice President International, IISD, and advisor to Achim Steiner, Under Secretary General, United Nations Environment Programme, on whether and how Rio may have fallen short Anriette Esterhausen/Heather Creech: Report on how Internet governance and policy issues were addressed during Rio, including the Secretary General's High Level Panel recommendations

Tamam Bayatly, BP, Baku: on the role of the Internet in monitoring responsible economic development -- the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
George Varughese, President, Development Alternatives, India -- on national Internet policy and its impact on economic policy [by video] Ben Akoh, West African Internet Governance Forum and IISD -- on the Internet and adaptation in Africa David Souter, ICT Development Associates and London School of Economics -- on finding a new coherence between the Internet and sustainable development

Name of Remote Moderator(s):