Satellite orbiting over planet earth

Technology and Innovation

When it comes to achieving a sustainable future for all, we cannot merely rely on tried-and-tested formulas. We need to think outside the box and get innovative. 

This can range from fostering innovation within our own sector, to getting creative and adopting new technologies traditionally confined to other sectors, such as FinTech solutions.

Recognizing that new thinking can advance sustainability, the United Nations opted to dedicate Sustainable Development Goal 9 to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

Here at IISD, we are exploring how certain innovative technologies such as Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain, originally embraced by the banking sector to increase the effectiveness of its business, could be adopted by the environmental and sustainable development sectors.

Internet of things infographic set by a lake

We are especially interested in how those who work on freshwater stewardship can look to these technologies to do everything from monitoring water usage, water flow and the contaminants that enter our lakes, to the movement of boats potentially carrying zebra mussels.

We are now looking to use AI technologies to reimagine how IISD Experimental Lakes Area uses its over 50-year dataset to understand the future of its lakes set against the backdrop of a changing climate.

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Experts

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Scott Higgins

Research Scientist, IISD-ELA

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Matthew McCandless

Senior Director, Fresh Water & Executive Director, IISD-ELA

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Michael Paterson

Senior Research Scientist, IISD-ELA

Headshot of Dr. Michael Rennie

Michael Rennie

Research Fellow, IISD-ELA

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Joey Simoes

Hydrologist II

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Madeline Stanley

Policy Advisor

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