Sustainable
Digitalization and
the Triple Planetary
Crisis in West Asia

© 2023 United Nations Environment Programme

ISBN No: 978-92-807-4015-8
Job No: DEW/2513/NA

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit services without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The United Nations Environment Programme would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source.

No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Communication Division, United Nations Environment Programme, unep-communication-director@un.org. The use of information from this document for publicity or advertising is not permitted. Trademark names and symbols are used in an editorial fashion with no intention on infringement of trademark or copyright laws.

Disclamer

All versions of this work may contain content reproduced under license from third parties. Permission to reproduce this third-party content must be obtained from these third parties directly.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. For general guidance on matters relating to the use of maps in publications please go to http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm

Mention of a commercial company or product in this document does not imply endorsement by UNEP or the authors. The use of information from this document for publicity or advertising is not permitted. Trademark names and symbols are used in an editorial  fashion with no intention on infringement of trademark or copyright laws.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Environment Programme. We regret any errors or omissions that may have been unwittingly made.

© Maps, photos and illustrations as specified

Suggested citation
United Nations Environment Programme (2023). Sustainable Digitalization and the Triple Planetary Crisis in West Asia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

United Nations Environment Programme is grateful to the large number of contributors and reviewers who participated in the production of this report through provision of data, analysis, and comments. Special thanks to contributors and reviewers from various organisations.

Core Team:
Abdelmenam Mohamed, Jane Thomason, Joe Tekli, Khaldoun Tarabay, Ghenwa Nammour

Global CEO Alliance:
James Donovan, Michelle Tan, Alma Liwanag, Jonathan Pacana

Contributors: 
Di Zhang, Mohamed Ayoub, James Donovan, Marion Marigo, Abdelmenam Mohamed, Jane Thomason

Reviewers:
Bilel Jamoussi, Emad Karim, Erlijn Van Genuchten, Mohammad Nawar Al-Awa, Nevine Tewfik, Dany Wazen

Layout: 
Alan Penilla

Foreword

The world is facing insurmountable challenges against the backdrop of the triple planetary crisis. The steps we are currently taking towards achieving the SDGs are insufficient. Systemic reforms to reach all SDGs and planetary boundaries need to be addressed at speed, impact, and scale. 

The West Asia Region is no exception to the environmental risks driven by climate change, political conflicts, and human displacement among others. Digital Transformation (DT) can be a key player in encouraging decision making towards more sustainable actions in managing these risks.

In West Asia region, digital technologies are getting more attention and being included in governments’ vision and roadmap. From one side, this may be a crucial enabler for many West Asian nations to conduct evidence-based analyses of environmental trends in climate, nature, and pollution and track advancements in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ objectives and putting multilateral environmental agreements into practice. From the other side, the emergence of digital technologies may lead to the region facing environmental implications such as increased e-waste production, energy consumption, etc.

In order to shed light on this emerging issue, we are happy to introduce the regional report on “Sustainable Digitalization and the Triple Planetary Crisis in West Asia”. This report which is the first of its kind at the regional level, seeks to “help policymakers to better understand the available basic digital infrastructure, and its potential positive and negative impacts on the environment at the regional level”.

UNEP hopes that you will find this report on “Sustainable Digitalization and the Triple Planetary Crisis in West Asia” a good stocktaking that could provide decision makers with a forward-looking perspective to address this environmental emerging issue using environment friendly practices and best available  technologies before it is too late.

Sami Dimassi
UNEP Representative
Regional Director for West Asia

SECTION 1:
INTRODUCTION

There are three key environmental crises that are uniquely challenging for the West Asia region, these are the climate change crisis, the pollution, and waste crisis, and the biodiversity loss crisis (United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP] 2020).

READ MORE

SECTION 2:
WEST ASIA OVERVIEW

West Asia is highly heterogeneous, with a combination of high-income countries, middle and lower income countries, and countries in crisis (Map 1), as shown in the disparities in the Human Development Index in Table 1 (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] 2021).

READ MORE

SECTION 3:
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIGITALIZATION AND ENVIRONMENT

Emerging Technologies that can Facilitate Sustainability

READ MORE

SECTION 4:
RISKS OF SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITALIZATION

4.1 E-Waste – A Growing Problem
4.2 Digital Technologies and Carbon FootprintFOOTPRINT
4.3 The Digital Divide

READ MORE

SECTION 5:
A Sustainable Digital Future for West Asia

The Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES) defines four fundamental shifts that are required for a sustainable digital future: Align digital capabilities’ values with those of sustainable development; 

READ MORE