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Can Safetytech help us achieve Sustainable Development Goals?

25/05/2021

We believe that safety and sustainability are the flipsides of the same coin, whether it is to do with the way we generate energy, the way we farm, consume and distribute food or the way we travel and communicate around the world. 

Sustainable Development Goals are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Safety technologies offer a cost-effective pathway to achieve these goals in a safe manner. 

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy 

All our major systems – food, transport, energy – must transition to low-carbon operations.  This change must be fast so investor confidence must be high.  Enabling technologies such as 5G and beyond are also needed now but face challenges from poorly managed public perceptions of risk. 

  • Safetytech de-risks the low carbon transition through safety assurance for key technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and distributed energy generation. 
  • Without safetytech, progress will be too slow, more expensive, prone to resistance from an ill-informed public and fundamentally less equal in terms of beneficial social impact.  

SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 

Global economic growth, especially in the developing world, requires massive investment and rapid roll-out of new industrial technology.   

Renewed focus on risk and excellent safety assurance in complex work environments will be essential – that lies at the core of STA’s mission. 

  • Safetytech contributes to creation of fit-for-purpose Net-Zero/Low Carbon Transition Risk Frameworks that will underpin future global infrastructure investment decisions. 
  • Safetytech ensures that economic progress is underpinned by social justice in the form of the widest possible access to safe working environments across economies at all stages of development.  

SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production 

Our growing populations need safe food and resources more quickly and for less cost than ever before.  In meeting this challenge, environmental and social responsibility in the food industry cannot be compromised.  

  • Food Safetytech supports a resilient, socially just global food supply system that can meet demand.  Digital solutions protect food supply chains in the developing world and can boost vital intra-continental trade in places such as Africa. 
  • Climate impacts challenge the viability of traditional crops in the developing world and dangerous heat stress for workers is already reducing productivity.  Digital solutions such as ‘Precision Agriculture’ can help protect human labour and boost yields. 

SDG 14 – Life Below Water 

The IMO has targeted a 50% reduction in absolute emissions from shipping.  But the sector has made little progress to-date compared to others and overall shipping volume is projected to increase.   Future routes will include environmentally highly sensitive areas.   

  • New low carbon fuels must be trialled quickly and certified for emission reporting and safety. 
  • Securing vessel safety is key to protection of the ocean environment and enhanced crew safety is fundamental to social justice at work. 
  • Safetytech is therefore critical to achieving a transition in the maritime sector within 10 years.

If you care about safety of people and industry, chances are your activities are linked to one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Let’s discuss how we can work together. Contact us using the contact form.